omments on Daniel 



A Revision of the 
Interpretations of the 
Prophecies of Daniel. 



Class: - ' 

Book_ uLJ 

Copyright N° 

csFmmm deposit. 



Comments on Daniel 

A Revision of the 
Interpretations of the 
Prophecies of Daniel. 



M. H. C. 



•5 



Copt bight, 1920. 

BY 

Dr. M. H. Chamberlin. 



All nghis reserved. 



©CU576653 

SEP 29 1920 



DEDICATION 



This volume is dedicated to the memory of Jacob 
T uckerman, who was. president of Grand River In- 
stitute, Ashtabula County, Ohio, at the time the 
writer was a student there. It was under his in- 
fluence that the writer was led, in his early life, to 
accept Christ as his Savior. He was also, at that time, 
the writer s counselor and benefactor. 



CONTENTS 



INTRODUCTION 
Interpretations, Foundations Laid by God. — Three Classes 
of Visions. — Daniel, the Prophet of the Gentile Nations. — 
The Traditional Interpreters. — The Sealed Book. — The 
Time of the End. — The Book of Revelation. — Unsealing 
the Book ... . . 11 

CHAPTER I 

The Vision of Nebuchadnezzar. — The Great Image. — The 
Five Kingdoms Represented in the Image. — The First 
Kingdom. — The Second Kingdom. — The Third King- 
dom. — The Fourth Kingdom. — The Fifth Kingdom. — The 
History of the Mohammedan Power. — Rome and the Fifth 
Kingdom. — The Compendium of Nebuchadnezzar's Dream 19 

CHAPTER II 

The Second Vision of Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel Chapter 
Four. — Nebuchadnezzar to Become Demented, His King- 
dom to Be Destroyed and Restored. — The Babylonian Em- 
pire to Be Restored. — Babylon to Be Again Destroyed. — 
The Headless Image. — Concise Comparison of Prophecy 
and History 31 

CHAPTER III 
The Visions of Daniel as Recorded in Chapter Seven. — The 
First Beast Does Not Represent Nebuchadnezzar's King- 
dom as Claimed, But England. — A Statement of Things to 
Come. — The Description of the First Beast. — Daniel 7:4 
May Be Descriptive of Some Kingdom of Today. — Eng- 
land Corresponds to the Description of the Lion . . 43 

CHAPTER IV 

How England, the Lion with Eagle's Wings, Is Being 
Plucked. — The Second Vision of Daniel, the Bear, Does 
Not Refer to Persia But Russia. — Russia the Nation That 
Corresponds to the Bear. — These Prophetic Fulfillments a 
Proof of the Truth of the Word of God. — The Vision of 
Daniel as Found in Verse Six, the Leopard. — The "Central 
Powers" in the Late War Correspond to the Leopard. — 
When the Alliance Was Discovered 53 

CHAPTER V 

The Fourth Beast of Chapter Seven Is Not Rome, But Is 
to Be Developed Out of the Remains of the Leopard. — 
Things to Come Seen in Heaven. — The Interpretation of 
Daniel's Vision of the Fourth Beast 65 



6 



Contents 



CHAPTER VI 

The Little Horn as Recorded in Chapter Eight Does Not 
Represent Antiochus Epiphanes, But Is Identical with 
That of Chapter Seven. — What Daniel Saw in This 
Vision. — The Little Horn of Chapter Eight. — Time the 
Determining Point. — Comparison of the Little Horn of 
Chapters Seven and Eight. — The Interpretations by the 
Angels. — Time When. — Comments on the Above Com- 
parison. — There Is Only One Little Horn . . . .74 

CHAPTER VII 
The Prayer of Daniel as Recorded in Chapter Nine. — A 
Forecast of the End of Transgression, Etc. — The Anoint- 
ing of the Most Holy One. — Cyrus. — Daniel's Prayer. — 
The Benefits Arising from Daniel's Prayer. — The Last 
Week of the Seventy, Not Yet Fulfilled. — Israel Not My 
People. — The Book of Daniel Contains No Prophecy of 
Israel in This Age. — The Break Between Verses Twenty- 
six and Twenty-seven. — The Last Offer. — The Little Horn 
Claiming to Be the Messiah 83 

CHAPTER VIII 
The Last Vision of Daniel as Recorded in Chapters Ten, 
Eleven and Twelve. — Daniel's Prayer, and the Angel's 
Account of the Wars of the Little Horn. — Daniel's Prayer 
and What He Saw. — Prayer Heard But Answer De- 
layed. — What the Angel Came For. — The Vision of 
Daniel Continued in Chapter Eleven. — The Prophetic 
History of Daniel's People Continued. — The King of the 
South and the North. — The Effects of Their Wars on 
Palestine. — The History of These Kings . . .' .93 

CHAPTER IX 
The Last Vision of Daniel Continued. — The Career of the 
Antiochus, and the War of the Maccabees. — The Con- 
gruity of the Text and History. — The Accuracy of the 
Prophetic Word as Above Arranged. — The Career of 
Antiochus Epiphanes. — The Origin of the War of the 
Maccabees. — Death of Antiochus Epiphanes. — The Claims 
of the Traditional Interpreters 103 

CHAPTER X 

The Last Vision of Daniel Continued in Chapter Eleven. — 
The Prophetic Statements of the Angel, and the Tradi- 
tional Interpreters. — The Effects of These Prophecies 
Upon the Jews. — The Little Horn and the Contemptible 
Person Identical. — Jewish Worship Restored. — Prophecy 
Fulfilled Before the First Coming of Christ. — A Great 
Proof of the Truth of the Word of God.— Of What 
Benefit Were Daniel's Prophecies to the Jews? — A Short 



Contents 



7 



Recapitulation and Conclusion. — The Beginning of the 
Career of the Contemptible Person. — The Little Horn and 
the Contemptible Person Identical . . . . .113 

CHAPTER XI 
The Career of the Little Horn Continued. — Where He Will 
Come Up. — War Between the King of the North and 
South. — The Plot and the Broken Covenant. — His Words 
and the Struggling Saints. — The Little Horn and His 
God.— The Little Horn "Is Grieved," That Is Killed.— 
What the Prophet John Says of the Little Horn . . 125 

CHAPTER XII 
Chapter Eleven Concluded. — The Fourth Beast of Chapter 
Seven Compared with the Beast Like a Leopard. — Where 
and How the Fourth Beast Will Develop. — The Great 
Red Dragon. — The Symbolism of Rev. Chapter Twelve. — 
The Heads and Horns of the Beast and the Dragon . 136 

CHAPTER XIII 
The Relation of the Little Horn to Satan. — Satan the Harlot 
and the Kings. — The Seven Heads. — The Five Ancient 
Heads of Satan. — God's Purpose in the Call of Abra- 
ham. — -The Renaissance of Asia. — The Autonomy of Pales- 
tine. — The Rapture 147 

CHAPTER XIV 
The Last Vision of Daniel Continued. — Michael That Great 
Prince. — The Time of Trouble. — The Great Religious 
War. — What the Prophet John Saw and Heard. — The 
Preparation for the Battle of Armageddon. — The Battle 
of Armageddon . . 15S 

CHAPTER XV 
The Sequel. — The Glory of the Coming Kingdom. — The 
Shechinah. — The Marriage of the Lamb Is Come. — The 
Changed Conditions 169 

CHAPTER XVI 
The Last Vision of Daniel Continued. — The Resurrection 
and Judgment of Israel, and the Relation of the Church. — 
Found Written in the Book. — The Resurrection of 
Israel. — The Judgment of Israel. — The Church Saints 
and This Resurrection. — The Saints to Rule the Earth 
with Christ— The Wise 179 

CHAPTER XVII 
The Conclusion. — The Increase of Knowledge. — The Man 
Clothed in Linen. — The Oath. — The Three Periods of 
Time.— Daniel 189 



PREFACE 



AFTER the writer's daughter graduated from college 
he placed in her hands a copy of a work on the 
prophet Daniel and asked her to read it and look up the 
references in the Bible. A few days after she was asked 
how she was getting along with Daniel? She replied, 
"At first I got along pretty well, but in a little while, in 
comparing the Bible references with the book, I got all 
mixed up and could not understand it and finally quit." 
Several months after, the writer undertook to guide a 
class in the study of the Book of Daniel and endeavored 
to follow the explanations given by the commonly ac- 
cepted interpretations and the Bible, and the writer also 
found himself, to use his daughter's expression, "All 
mixed up," and he also quit, not the study of Daniel, but 
only the interpretations. 

The writer then applied himself very closely to the 
word of God, comparing it with history where there was 
evidence that the prophecies had been fulfilled. What 
follows, under the blessing of God, is the result of that 
study. The writer believes most of the Bible students 
and teachers of the present day, have accepted the tradi- 
tional interpreters, as a matter of fact without looking 
deeply into God's word to see whether these interpreta* 
tions are correct or not. He realizes that his efforts are 
very imperfect and incomplete. He has commented upon 
those chapters only that are prophetic and that he could 
not make agree with the commonly accepted interpreta- 



10 



Preface 



tions. The prophecies of Daniel make a wonderful book 
in God's word. So far as getting at all the truths in it. 
the writer has only partly succeeded. If he has been suc- 
cessful in bringing some of the truths of Daniel to the 
attention of God's people he will feel that his work is not 
in vain. It is not expected that these comments can be 
well understood unless the reader will look up the refer- 
ences in the Bible. 

M. H. C. 

Los Angeles, California, January 15, 1920. 



INTRODUCTION 



Ought not the Interpretations of Some of the Prophecies 
of the Book of Daniel to be Revised? 

GOD, HIMSELF laid the foundations of the inter- 
pretations of the prophecies of this great and won- 
derful book. If we will follow His guidings in these 
foundations, and use the keys He has given us correctly, 
and not follow the ancient traditions of men, we will not 
get very far out of the way. 

It will be noticed that the visions of this book can be 
divided into three classes. 

First, Those visions which Nebuchadnezzar saw, and 
which were interpreted by Daniel through the gift of The 
Holy Spirit. These interpretations, and the nations that 
were designated by name, we know are correct, (ch. 2 
and 4). 

Second, Those visions which Daniel, himself saw, and 
which are explained to him by an angel sent by The Holy 
Spirit, and where the names of the nations were given. 
We also know these interpretations are correct, (ch. S 
and 9). 

Third, Those visions which Daniel saw, in which the 
nations were not designated by name, but are to be recog- 
nized in the latter days, by the descriptions given by the 
angel in the prophetic text, when compared with history, 
(chs. 7, 10, 11 and 12). 

It will be noticed that the interpretations concerning 

li 



12 



Introduction 



those kingdoms or nations, which had not yet come into 
prominence in the world's history or had not yet come into 
existence, when the prophecies were given, are the inter- 
pretations, which we believe ought to be revised. These 
are found mostly in the third class. 

Daniel is often called the prophet of the Gentile nations, 
because The Holy Spirit has given us through him a per- 
spective of the great world-powers, which no other prophet 
has done, yet that perspective has special reference to 
God's people, Israel, His land, His city, Jerusalem, and 
the coming of the Messiah, as represented by the Stone 
cut out of the mountain without hands, and the final 
overthrow and destruction of all these powers, by this 
Messiah as king. (Dan. 2:35, 44, 45).* 

The Dominion and all these great kingdoms, shall be 
given to God's people, Israel, (the believing ones) and 
they shall reign with this Messiah, as their king, forever. 
(Dan. 7:13, 14, 27). 

The Ancient Traditional Interpretations 

The earliest attempts made to interpret these prophecies 
of which we have noticed any account, date back many 
centuries. Barnabas is the first mentioned. He lived in 
the last part of the first, and the first part of the second 
century after Christ, when the Roman power was at its 
height. 

His writings are called, "The Epistles of Barnabas." 
This Barnabas is said to have been a companion of Paul 
in the Acts of the Apostles. He speaks of the kingdoms 
foretold by Daniel. He says, "They are in existence, and 
that the fourth beast is reigning." Referring to Rome, 



*The text mostly quoted from is x the English revised. 



Introduction 



13 



and warns his sons and daughters that "The last offense 
is come nigh." We do not learn that he said anything 
about the three kingdoms which preceded the one under 
which he himself was living. The next writer we note, 
is Hyppolytus, who wrote in the first part of the third 
century. He says, "Who are these, except the Romans, 
whose empire is iron." The earliest exposition of the 
visions of Daniel of the four beasts, (ch. 7) as a whole 
was the writings of Jerome, who lived in the last part of 
the third century. 

He brings out the interpretations with considerable 
minuteness in endeavoring to refute the opinions of an 
infidel writer by the name of Porphyry, who lived in the 
century preceding him. In the first part of the fourth 
century, Theodoret adapted these interpretations, which 
were then being called, "The Traditional Interpretations 
of the Prophecies of Daniel," because they were those 
generally accepted. Quite an ancient writer by the name 
of Ephraim Syrus of the latter part of the third century, 
maintained, "That whatever fulfillment the prophecies 
(Dan. chs. 10, 11) received during the time of the Macca- 
bees, was only a type of further fulfillment to be expected 
in the last days." This idea found some strong sup- 
porters with slight modifications among such writers as 
Ewald, Dr. Westcott, and others. These ideas are held 
by many at the present time. As time went on, these in- 
terpretations were generally received with some slight 
modifications and additions by such writers as Hengsten- 
berg, Hoffman, Dr. Pusey, etc., until we have them in 
their present form. It is not surprising that the followers 
of Christ, living in. the days of the terrible persecutions 
of the Roman power, should believe that Rome was the 
fourth beast that was tearing them to pieces with his iron 



14 



Introduction 



teeth. But Rome as a world-power has long since passed 
away. 

The Dominion has been given to another kingdom, and 
many centuries have passed by, and still many of the 
prophecies of Daniel remain unfulfilled. When this was 
discovered we do not know who first suggested the idea 
that the Roman Empire would be revived again, and then 
the complete fulfillment of all these prophecies would take 
place. With this exception, possibly, very few changes 
of any importance have been made in the interpretations of 
the prophecies of Daniel, for more than twelve hundred 
years. 

The Sealed Book 

Now let us look for a moment at some of the declara- 
tions of the angel sent by The Holy Spirit, on this sub- 
ject, and which were made known to us by Daniel and 
other prophets. "And they shall take away his dominion 
to consume, and to destroy it unto the end." (Dan. 7:26). 
"Understand, O son of man; for the vision belongeth to 
the time of the end." (Dan. 8:17). "Behold, I will 
make thee to know what shall be in the latter time of the 
indignation, for it belongeth to the appointed time of the 
end." (Dan. 8:19). "But shut thou up the vision, for 
it belongeth to many days to come." (Dan. 8:26). "Even 
to the time of the end: because it is yet for the time ap- 
pointed." (Dan. 11:35). "But thou, O Daniel, shut up 
the words and seal the book, even to the time of the 
end." (Dan. 12:4). And he said, "Go thy way, Daniel; 
for the words are shut up and sealed till the time of the 
end." (Dan. 12:9). By these declarations we see that 
there are things prophesied of to come, that are especially 
referred to the "end" and "to the time of the end," and 



Introduction 



15 



the "Word" and the "Book" were "shut up" and 
"sealed," "To the time of the end." Now in the face 
of all these declarations by the angel, how is it possible 
then, that the words of Daniel could have been under- 
stood and correctly interpreted by man fourteen or fifteen 
centuries ago, or even five centuries ago? We find the 
word "Seal" or "Sealed" in God's word has several mean- 
ings, but the context of these passages plainly show that 
the meaning here is, to keep secret or hidden. Another 
prophet also gives us some light on this subject. Isaiah 
says (29:11) "And all vision is become unto you as the 
words of a book that is sealed, which men deliver to one 
that is learned, saying, read this, I pray thee, and he said, 
I cannot for it is sealed." Isaiah also says, (29:10), 
"For the Lord hath poured out upon you the spirit of 
deep sleep and hath closed your eyes, the prophets and 
your heads, the seers, hath He covered." Isaiah here 
describes the condition of His people, the prophets and 
the book when it is sealed. He said, "All vision," etc. 
(Isa. 29:11). May this not also refer to the book of 
Daniel? 

Therefore, we conclude from these references, that the 
interpretations of these early writers may be incorrect. 
Some may ask, if the ancient interpretations of Daniel are 
incorrect, what better opportunity or knowledge have we, 
to understand these prophecies? We reply, the oppor- 
tunity to observe the unfolding of many centuries of the 
world's history, and living nearer "the time of the end," 
when the word and the book are being unsealed. 

It may be asked, what does the expression, "The time 
of the end" signify? 



16 



Introduction 



The Time of the End. 

The angel Gabriel told Daniel, (9:24), that "Seventy 
weeks (of years) are decreed upon thy people and upon 
thy holy city (Jerusalem), to finish transgression, and to 
make an end of sin, and to make reconciliation for in- 
iquity, and to bring in everlasting righteousness, and to 
seal up vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy." 
Which means seventy weeks of years should elapse from 
the going forth of the command to rebuild Jerusalem to 
the coming of the Messiah, who would have restored all 
things, had His people not rejected Him. The whole 
seventy weeks of years is 490 years. 

Bible students generally agree that the Word and his- 
tory make it plain that 69 of the 70 weeks of years were 
fulfilled at the time of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, 
making 483 years, but nothing in all history has yet come 
to pass that will at all answer to all the wonderful declar- 
ations of the 24th verse of the 9th chapter of Daniel and 
the 70th week. But the 70th week, and the prophecies 
of this 24th verse are yet to be fulfilled. 

For Israel would not receive their Messiah, but re- 
jected Him and killed Him and the kingdom of heaven 
which He said was at hand. (Mat. 4:17) did not come 
but was postponed, and Christ when He arose from the 
dead went back to heaven again. In the mean time, God 
is visiting the Gentiles, since the crucifixion of Christ, 
"To take out of them a people for His name." (Acts, 
15:14) called the Church, the body of Christ, (Eph. 
1:22, 23). This will continue until, "The times of the 
Gentiles be fulfilled." (Lu. 21:24). Then God will 
again begin to deal with His people, Israel as a nation, 
and that that belongs to the unfulfilled prophecy of the 



Introduction 



17 



70th weeks of years will be fulfilled. This period, ''The 
time of the end," constitutes the last seven years of this 
unfulfilled prophecy, and is the time of the reign of the 
"Little Horn," described in the prophecies of Daniel, 
(chs. 7, 8, 11), and the time of the terrible tribulations, 
that are coming upon the earth, (Mat. 24:21, 22) and 
that are described in the book of Revelation. The last three 
and one half years of this period is the time of "Jacob's 
Trouble," (Jer. 30:7, 8). These are followed imme- 
diately by the second coming of Christ, with all His 
saints including the church, which will have gone before. 
(Acts 1:11, Rev. 19:11-21). 

Another may ask, have we not an interpretation of these 
prophecies in the book of Revelation? This book brings 
out in detail many things spoken of in the book of Daniel, 
but where is the man who would claim to correctly in- 
terpret the prophecies of that great book with all its grand 
pictorial representations and wonderful symbolism, with- 
out the aid of the knowledge of the book of Daniel ? Un- 
doubtedly the last word will not be said concerning 
either of these books, before the Lord Jesus will have 
come. Praise His Name. 

Unsealing the Book 

We think no one will maintain that these prophecies 
can be fully and correctly interpreted in every minute de- 
tail until the time of the end is at hand. But where is 
the man, who with the mind of faith toward God, and 
guided by His word, and the gift of The Holy Spirit; 
may not match this history of the world in the book of 
Daniel, written more than two thousand years in advance, 
with the events of time, as they loom up in history; and 
point out many things in it, relating to the prophetic his- 



18 



Introduction 



tory, in these latter days so near to "The time of the 
end"? As the time draws nigh and the things described 
therein transpire and are recognized, as they rise up upon 
our sight and sense in the course of the events, shall not 
God's people, who are watching, understand? (I Thes. 
5:4, Rev. 3:10). Taking all things into consideration, 
is it not quite certain then, that if we continue to wholly 
follow the interpretations of these early writers referred 
to, we shall be led into error and be deceived? In fact, 
who can at the present time take the old interpretations, 
compare them with the word of God, in the book of 
Daniel, and match them with the history of the world 
down to the present year 1920? The above are some of 
the reasons why the writer believes that some of the 
prophecies of the book of Daniel should be revised. 

When we have a more correct interpretation of these 
things, than we at present have, then as the history of 
the world is still further unfolded, and the "Word" and 
the "Book" are fully unsealed, the wise will understand. 

Now, near the beginning of this twentieth century, 
midst its mighty activities, standing on top of the ages, 
above the haze and fogs of the valleys of the past, with 
a clear and unobstructed vision, looking backward and 
forward and eastward; let us take up the study of this 
prophetic book of Daniel, comparing it with history, and 
see what we can find. 



Chapter One 



FIVE KINGDOMS REPRESENTED IN THE 
IMAGE INSTEAD OF FOUR 

The Vision of Nebuchadnezzar as Recorded in the Second 
Chapter of Daniel 

THE first chapter of Daniel is historical, as we are 
considering only the prophetic portions of the book, 
the historical chapters will be omitted. 

"And in the second year of the reign of Nebuchad- 
nezzar, Nebuchadnezzar dreamed a dream: and his spirit 
was troubled, and his sleep break from him. 

"Then the king commanded to call the magicians, 
and the enchanters, and the sorcerers, and the Chaldeans, 
for to tell the king his dream. So they came in and 
stood before the King." After quite a talk with them 
he found they could not. For this cause the king was 
angry and became very furious, and commanded to 
destroy all the wise men of Babylon. "So the decree 
went forth, and the wise men were to be slain ; and thev 
sought Daniel and his companions to slay them. Then 
Daniel returned answer with council and prudence to 
Arioch the captain of the king's guard, which was gone 
forth to slay the wise men of Babylon : He answered and 
said to Arioch the king's captain, Wherefore is the decree 
so urgent from the king? Then Arioch made known 
the thing to Daniel. And Daniel went in, and desired of 
the king that he would appoint him a time, and he would 



19 



20 



Comments on Daniel 



show the king the interpretation. Then Daniel went to 
his house, and made the thing known to Hananiah, 
Mishael, and Azariah, his companions; That they would 
desire mercies of the God of heaven concerning this secret ; 
that Daniel and his companions should not perish with 
the rest of the wise men of Babylon. Then was the secret 
revealed unto Daniel in a vision of the night. Then 
Daniel blessed the God of heaven" (vs. 13-18). Then 
follow that fervent prayer of praise and thanksgiving to 
God, the God of his fathers, for the answer to his prayer, 
in making known unto them the king's dream. ' 'There- 
fore Daniel went in unto Arioch, whom the king had 
appointed to destroy the wise men of Babylon: he went 
and said unto him ; Destroy not the wise men of Babylon, 
bring me in before the king, and I will show unto the 
king the interpretation. Then Arioch brought in Daniel 
before the king in haste, and said unto him, I have found 
a man of the children of the captivity of Judah, that will 
make known unto the king the interpretation." (vs. 24, 
25). Then follows in v. 26 the question of Nebuchad- 
nezzar, and in vs. 27 to 30, the answer of Daniel. In 
these verses, Daniel tells the king that there is a God in 
heaven that revealeth secrets. "And He hath made 
known to the king Nebuchadnezzar what shall be in the 
latter days." 

The Great Image 

Beginning with v. 31, Daniel through the gift of The 
Holy Spirit, tells Nebuchadnezzar, what he learned in a 
vision. "Thou O king sawest, and behold a great image. 
This image, which was mighty, and whose brightness was 
excellent, stood before thee; and the aspect thereof was 
terrible." . 



Comments on Daniel 21 

"As for this image, his head was of fine gold," (1). 

"His breasts and his arms of silver," (2), 

"His belly and thighs (sides) of brass," (3). 

"His legs of iron," (4). 

"His feet part of iron, and part of clay," .(5). 

(vs. 32, 33). 



Notice, The five distinct parts of the image are main- 
tained throughout the whole description, in the vision and 
also in the interpretation. 

Daniel continues, "Thou sawest till that a stone was 
cut out without hands, which smote the image upon the 
feet that were of iron and clay and break them in pieces." 
(v. 34). "Then was the iron, the clay, the brass, the 
silver, and the gold broken to pieces together, and became 
like the chaff of the summer threshing-floor"; etc. (v. 35). 
"This is the dream, and now we will tell the interpreta- 
tion thereof before the king." (v. 36). 

The Five Kingdoms Represented in the Image 

The First Kingdom is Nebuchadnezzar, "The head of 
Gold." Now read the interpretation in vs. 37, 38. We 
will consider the last sentence of v. 38. "Thou art this 
head of Gold." Here The Holy Spirit designates in His 
interpretation, who the first king represented in the image 
is. The head of gold is Nebuchadnezzar and his king- 
dom. (1). 

The Second Kingdom is Medo-Persia, "The breasts 
and arms of silver." Now read the first part of v. 39. 
"And after thee shall arise another kingdom inferior to 
thee." We know from history and from the angel's in- 
terpretation of Daniel's vision given in chapter 8, v. 20, 
that the kingdom which arose then after Nebuchad- 



22 



Comments on Daniel 



nezzar's was the Medo-Persian, because it conquered 
Nebuchadnezzar's kingdom. This is the kingdom repre- 
sented in the image by the breasts and arms of silver (2). 
Notice, The Holy Spirit made the application and desig- 
nated the first kingdom, but He does not here designate 
the second kingdom of the image by name, but in the 
vision of Daniel in chapter 8, v. 20, it is designated by the 
angel, as the Medo-Persian kingdom. 

The Third Kingdom is Greece; "The belly and sides 
of brass." Now, the last part of v. 39. "And another, 
third kingdom of brass, which shall bear rule over all 
the earth." The Holy Spirit does not designate this 
kingdom by name, but we know again, from the descrip- 
tion He gives compared with history, and the interpreta- 
tion of the angel in Daniel's vision chapter 8, v. 21, that 
the third kingdom is Greece, (3), and was represented in 
the image by, "The belly and sides of brass." 

The Fourth Kingdom is Rome, "Legs of iron." Now 
we come to v. 40, in the interpretation, "And the fourth 
kingdom shall be as strong as iron: forasmuch as iron 
breaketh in pieces and subdueth all things; and as iron 
crusheth all these, shall it break in pieces and crush." 
Here ends the description of the fourth kingdom in the 
interpretation. What follows next in the interpretation, 
it seems to the writer, is the description of another king- 
dom, which is to come after the fourth kingdom. The 
Holy Spirit does not designate by name the fourth king- 
dom neither does the angel. It was entirely in the future 
as a dominant power. Therefore we are left to find out, 
when in the course of time, a kingdom shall arise upon 
the earth, whose history shall correspond to the vision of 
Nebuchadnezzar, "Legs of iron," and to the interpreta- 



Comments on Daniel 



23 



tion given by The Holy Spirit through Daniel. We find 
that in the history of the world, that power was Rome, 
(4) which corresponds to Daniel's description given in 
v. 33, and matches the interpretation given in v. 40, 
alone. Some may claim that the term, "Divided king- 
dom" supposed to represent the two thighs of the image 
in v. 41, should be descriptive of the Roman kingdom, 
which is ignored as described above. The question prop- 
erly arises, to what kingdom in the description and inter- 
pretation does the term, "Divided kingdom" belong, since 
in the image and the two kingdoms following the 
Grecian, there is a division. It would seem as though the 
interpretation given by Daniel should settle the matter 
iather than the judgment of man. In fact how can we 
depart from the interpretation of Daniel and give an in- 
terpretation of our own ; since The Holy Spirit at the 
beginning of verse 41, draws His own conclusion, 
"Whereas," etc. in regard to the feet and toes, which 
is no part of the fourth kingdom, for He says conclu- 
sively in v. 33, "Legs of iron," referring to the fourth 
kingdom Rome. 

Rome does not represent the feet and toes of the image, 
so far as the writer can see, but only the "Legs of iron." 
Hence what follows in the description and interpretation 
must refer to a fifth kingdom. Nowhere does God's word 
say, there are only four kingdoms represented in the 
image. But now we have part of the description and the 
interpretation of the image given by The Holy Spirit in 
vs. 41, 42, 43, still unapplied to the image. Now we 
cannot apply this to Rome the fourth kingdom for it is 
not descriptive of Rome according to v. 33. consequently 
it must apply to a fifth kingdom, although The Holy 
Spirit does not say fifth kingdom. 



24 Comments on Daniel 



The fifth kingdom is the Mohammedan, "The feet and 
toes of clay and iron" (5). Rome as a dominant world- 
power, passed away more than twelve centuries ago, and 
was followed by another world-power, which ruled over 
most of the same territory occupied by Rome, and it also 
ruled over the Dominion, treading down the Holy Land. 
That was the Mohammedan power, first called the Sara- 
cen, and later Turkey. Now let us consider v. 41. "And 
whereas thou sawest the feet and toes, part of potters' clay, 
and part of iron, it shall be a divided kingdom." Note, 
"Whereas," equals, Seeing that. Here then, a conclusion 
of The Holy Spirit, is stated by Daniel, upon what 
Nebuchadnezzar saw. Also, two elements enter here, 
iron and clay, where there was only one in v. 40, iron. 
"It shall be a divided kingdom." That is the feet shall 
be a divided kingdom, not the legs, a kingdom referring 
to Rome, but rather a divided kingdom referring to some 
kingdom coming after Rome, which history tells us was 
Turkey. 

In the last part of v. 41, He goes on describing the 
feet of the image saying, "But there shall be in it, of 
the strength of the. iron, forasmuch as thou sawest the 
iron mixed with miry clay." The meaning is, it is not 
as strong as iron, compared to the legs, the Roman king- 
dom, but only partakes of the strength of the iron, be- 
cause it is now mixed with clay. Now notice, by the above 
description, The Holy Spirit brings out through Daniel, 
two conditions in the fifth or last kingdom, Turkey, rep- 
resented by the feet and toes of the image, not found in 
the legs, the fourth kingdom, namely; First, the declining 
strength of the feet, caused by the entering in of the clay ; 
Second, a still further decline of strength of the feet, be- 



Comments on Daniel 25 



cause the feet, part of clay, are also divided into the toes, 
which are also part of clay. How can these verses be a 
prophetic description of the Roman Empire? There is 
also a difference of opinion among biblical scholars, in 
regard to the real significance of the word "clay." Verse 
42, reads, "And as the toes of the feet were part of iron, 
and part of clay, so the kingdom shall be partly strong, 
and partly broken, or brittle (margin)." Some say "clay" 
means Democracy, others, lack of discipline, etc. As this 
division of Turkey, the Mohammedan Empire, into the 
toes, has so lately taken place, we cannot certainly state 
what the real meaning may prove to be, only time can 
unfold the meaning. It seems to the writer, to refer in 
some way to the religious condition of the empire, now 
broken into ten kingdoms. 

The History of the Mohammedan Power 

About a century after the death of Mohammed, his fol- 
lowers, the Saracens, conquered Southern Asia and North- 
ern Africa, and advanced into Europe by the way of 
Spain, entering France, and were stopped there and were 
turned back by Charles Martel, at the battle of Tours in 
the year, A. D. 732. In the twelfth century, the Turks, 
also adherents of the Mohammedan religion, gained the 
ascendency over the Saracens, who had ruled the Eastern 
world, conquered Western Asia and established an em- 
pire. They invaded Europe about the middle of the 
thirteenth century. By the end of the fourteenth century, 
this Moslem power, with its capital at Constantinople, 
had conquered the whole of the Balkan Peninsula in 
Europe to the very walls of Vienna. By the middle of 
the fifteenth century, Turkey had reached the height of 
its power under the rule of Solyman, "The Magnificent." 



26 



Comments on Daniel 



It was at that time the greatest world-power on the earth. 
It held sway from the Crimea in Russia to the Southern 
limits of Egypt, and from the borders of Persia to the 
Northern boundary of Bosnia in Europe and the Adriatic 
Sea. It was the terror of the Christian world. Before the 
beginning of the sixteenth century it had begun to decline 
in power. Other religions began to be tolerated within 
the boundaries of the empire. The Janizaries, an order 
of soldiery, became very powerful and rebellious, and 
a menace to the throne of the caliph, and were with great 
difficulty destroyed. The Turks nearly always at war, 
at first were nearly always victorious in battle. After 
their power declined they were nearly always defeated. 
There were no more nations they could conquer and pil- 
lage, for them to live upon. They then began the massacre 
of their own subjects who were not Moslems. Turkey's 
weakness became a source of intrigue among the nations. 
In 1853, the Russian Czar, Nicholas I, named Turkey, 
"The sick man of the East." Later the "Eastern ques- 
tion" became acute, absorbing the diplomatic intrigue of 
the nations, which resulted in the Crimean war, with vic- 
tory for Turkey. In 1875, the Balkan States began to 
revolt. The treaty of San Stefano in the year 1879, gave 
independence to the whole peninsula except Constanti- 
nople and the territory immediately north of it. The de- 
cline in power of the Moslem Empire led to the break- 
ing away of the Balkan States from Turkey. This also 
marks the beginning of the division of the feet of the 
image into the toes, which was not completed until after 
the collapse of the late war came, when the Asiatic por- 
tion of the Turkish Empire had been captured by the 
allied forces, under the command of general Allenby of 
the British army on September 30, 1918, while the Novem- 



Comments on Daniel 27 

her following, of the same year, had witnessed the Christ- 
ian forces of America turn the tide of the Teutonic hordes, 
advancing into France, at Chateau Thiery, which Charles 
Martel had built, after he had conquered the Mohamme- 
dans at Tours, nearly twelve centuries before. Thus 
America touched the common cause of both, across the 
centuries and saved the present civilization of Southern 
Europe. Since this date, the division of the Balkan Pen- 
insula, composed of about a dozen states, into only five 
states or kingdoms, no more, no less, which corresponds to 
the five toes of the European foot of the image, has taken 
place. These kingdoms are Jugo-Slavia, Rumania, Bul- 
garia, Albania, and Constantinople, the remaining por- 
tion of Turkey in Europe. Also the division of the 
Asiatic foot of the image of the Turkish Empire, into 
another five kingdoms or states, no more, no less, has 
literally and completely fulfilled this phase of the prophecy 
of the image. These kingdoms are Armenia, Syria, Meso- 
potamia, Arabia or Hedjaz, and Egypt. Now let us look 
at v. 43. "And whereas thou sawest the iron mixed with 
miry clay," etc. Here we have another "whereas," seeing 
that, "They shall mingle themselves with the seed of men, 
but they shall not cleave one to another." That is, the 
different races of men, shall not unite into one great king- 
dom, but each race shall form a kingdom or state of its 
own by itself, corresponding to the ten toes of the image, 
which the League of Nations favored. Hence, the ten 
kingdoms are formed out of the Turkish Empire. How 
wonderfully this prophecy has thus far been fulfilled. Yet 
it was written more than twenty-four centuries ago. 



28 Comments on Daniel 

Rome and the Fifth Kingdom 

This prophecy has now so far become history, that 
we can no longer escape the conviction of the truth of the 
above statement. Five times in the above three verses. 
41, 42, 43, the words "iron" and "clay," are mentioned 
referring to some power that came after and in place of 
the fourth kingdom of the image, and succeeding it, as * 
Rome, the fourth kingdom, succeeded the third, and so 
on. And now the inspired description of Daniel, and his- 
tory, have fully confirmed the place of the fifth kingdom, 
the Turkish, or Mohammedan Empire in the image, which 
prophecy, down to the beginning of the ten toes, is a 
thing of the past, and has become history, and the ten 
kingdoms out of it are formed, as given above. And now 
there looms up before us the remaining prophetic verses, 
of this second chapter of Daniel, (44, 45) big with great 
and inspiring hopes, the coming glorious kingdom of our 
glorified Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ and His saints, in 
the near future. (Dan. 7:27). 

But there lies between, the prophecy of the terrible and 
awful crisis of the nations, in the gathering power of the 
ten kings or kingdoms occupying this same territory, united 
into one great kingdom, with the "Little Horn" as king, 
and ruling the whole world; which was not seen in the 
vision of Nebuchadnezzar, but is described in the visions 
of Daniel. But let us bring out this prophecy still more 
clearly by the following compendium. 



Comments on Daniel 



29 



COMPENDIUM OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR'S 
DREAM 



The Vision 
(1) 

Verse 32, First Part. 
"As for this image, his head 
was of fine gold." 

(2) 

Verse 32, Middle Part. 
"His breasts and his arms of 
silver." 

(3) 

Verse 32, Last Part. 
"His belly and his thighs of 
brass." 



(4) 

Verse 33, First Part. 
"His legs of Iron." 



(5) 

Verse 33, Last Part. 
'His feet part of iron and 
part of clay." 



The Interpretation 
(1) 

Verse 38, Last Part. 
"Thou art this head of Gold." 

(2) 

Verse 39, First Part. 
"After thee shall arise another 
kingdom inferior to thee." 

(3) 

Verse 39, Last Part. 
"And another third kingdom 
of brass, which shall bear rule 
over all the earth." 

(4) 

Verse 40, . . . 
"And the fourth kingdom shall 
be strong as iron, forasmuch 
as iron breaketh in pieces and 
subdueth all things ; and as 
iron that crusheth all these, 
shall it break in pieces and 
crush." 

(5) 

Verses 41, 42, 43, . . . 
"And whereas thou sawest the 
feet and toes part of potters' 
clay, and part of iron, it shall 
be a divided kingdom; but 
there shall be in it of the 
strength of the iron, forasmuch 
as thou sawest the iron mixed 
with miry clay," etc. 



30 Comments 



on Daniel 



Verses 34, 35. 
"Thou sawest till that a stone 
was cut out without hands, 
which smote the image upon 
the feet that were of iron and 
clay and break them in pieces, 
then was 

The iron 

the clay 

the brass 

the silver 

the gold 
broken in pieces together, and 
became like the chaff of the 
summer threshing floor; . . . 
and the stone that smote the 
image became a great moun- 
tain and filled the whole 
earth." 



Verse 45. 
"Forasmuch as thou sawest 
that a stone was cut out of 
the mountain without hands 
and that it brake in pieces 

the iron 

the brass 

the clay 

the silver 

the gold 
the Great God hath made 
known to the king, what shall 
come to pass hereafter; and 
the dream is certain ■ and the 
interpretation thereof sure." 



Chapter Two 



THE SECOND VISION OF NEBUCHADNEZZAR 
AS RECORDED IN DANIEL, CHAPTER FOUR 

Nebuchadnezzar to Become Demented and Restored, His 
Kingdom to Be Destroyed and Restored 

The proclamation of Nebuchadnezzar and his acknowl- 
edgement of The High God and His signs and wonders 
and His everlasting kingdom and His dominion that shall 
last from generation to generation ; and the vision he saw 
and of his making the decree, and the calling of the magi- 
cians, and how none but Daniel, the master of magicians, 
who, through the gift of The Holy Spirit, could interpret 
his vision to him ; are told in the first nine verses. 

In v. 10, and on, Nebuchadnezzar was able to relate 
his second vision to Daniel as follows: "Thus were the 
visions of my head upon my bed ; I saw, and behold a tree 
in the midst of the earth, and the height thereof was great. 

The tree grew and was strong, and the height thereof 
reached unto heaven, and the sight thereof, to the end of 
the earth. The leaves thereof were fair and the fruit 
thereof much, and it was meat for all: The beasts of the 
field had shadow under it, and the fowls of the heaven 
dwelt in the branches thereof, and all flesh was fed by it. 
I saw in the visions of my head upon my bed, and behold, 
a watcher, and a holy one came down from heaven. 

He cried aloud, and said, hew down the tree, and cut 

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32 



Comments on Daniel 



off his branches, shake off his leaves, and scatter his 
fruit: Let the beasts get away from under it, and the 
fowls from his branches. Nevertheless, leave the stump 
of his roots in the earth, even with a band of iron and 
brass, in the tender grass of the field; and let it be 
wet with the dew of heaven, and let his portion be with 
the beasts in the grass of the earth: Let his heart be 
changed from a man's and let a beast's heart be given him : 
And let seven times pass over him." (Dan. 4:10-16). 
Verse 17 tells us why the demand for such a thing was 
made. It is no wonder the great king was disturbed by 
such a vision and he should want to know the interpreta- 
tion. This is given in vs. 20 to 26, and Daniel's admoni- 
tion is given in v. 27. 

In vs. 20, 21, Daniel repeats the first part of the vision, 
and then gives the interpretation, which is: The king is 
the tree grown strong, and his greatness reaches unto the 
heaven, and his dominion to the ends of the earth. 

Then in v. 23, Daniel takes up the second part of the 
vision, the decree of the watcher, and tells what will take 
place concerning his kingdom, and what will take place 
concerning himself. Let us note, that the decree is divided 
into two parts or portions ; the kingdom's portion, and his, 
the king's portion. The kingdom's portion is, namely, 
Destruction. Daniel says, "And whereas the king saw a 
watcher and an holy one, coming down from heaven, and 
saying, Hew down the tree and destroy it; nevertheless, 
leave the stump of the roots thereof in the earth even with 
a band of iron and brass in the tender grass of the field; 
and let it be wet with the dews of Heaven." (What could 
it be for, except to grow again?) "In the tender grass 
of the field, and let it be wet with the dew of heaven." 



Comments on Daniel 



33 



Isaiah tells of "A shoot that shall come forth out of the 
stock of Jesse" and it was "As a root out of a dry ground" 
(Isaiah 53:2). This has been completely fulfilled. Here 
it is a stump with a band about it, wet with the dew of 
heaven. Does it not signify that it will grow again? 
That is, Babylon will be rebuilt? 

Let it be noticed also, that the king's portion and the 
kingdom's portion are entirely different, separate and 
distinct from each other. The king's portion was, for 
him to be with the beasts of the field until seven times 
passed over him, etc., which we know to have been seven 
years, when he was restored to his kingdom again. (Dan. 
4:30-34). He was smitten with the mental disease called 
"Lycanthropy" in which he imagined himself to be an 
animal and lived like one. The kingdom's portion, as 
before stated, was to be destruction, nevertheless, "leave 
the stump of the roots with a band of iron and brass," 
etc. (Dan. 4:23). What was the band of iron and brass 
for, except to preserve the stump of the roots of the old 
kingdom, in order that God might fulfill His purposes 
concerning it in the future? We know also, from God's 
word and from history, that the kingdom's "portion," 
destruction, did not come at the same time that the king's 
"portion" did, but years after, when Medo-Persia took 
the kingdom. Daniel told the king in the interpretation 
(vs. 24, 25, 26), only so much of it as pertained to him- 
self, which was, "And whereas they commanded to leave 
the stump of the tree roots; thy kingdom shall be sure 
unto thee, after that thou shalt have known that the 
Heavens do rule." Daniel does not explain to the king 
the kingdom's "portion," and what should become of it 
in the future after he was gone. That was left for the 



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Comments on Daniel 



people of God of later ages to find out from God's word 
and from history. So the people of God have nearly 
twenty-five centuries of history to consider and compare 
with His wonderful prophetic word, and comprehend the 
marvelous way in which He has dealt, and is dealing with 
the nations of the earth in the fulfillment of these won- 
derful prophecies. 

The Babylonian Empire to Be Restored 

In the interpretation of the vision that Nebuchadnezzar 
saw, in the second chapter, The Holy Spirit, through 
Daniel says, in v. 39, "And after thee shall arise another 
kingdom inferior to thee," which we know to have been 
the Medo-Persian, "And another third kingdom of brass," 
which we know to have been Greece. Then in v. 40, 
He says, "And the fourth kingdom shall be strong as 
iron," etc., which we now know to have been Rome. 
Thus arose in succession the brass and iron kingdoms of 
Greece and Rome, which held sway over the kingdom 
that was Nebuchadnezzar's. These Empires have been 
destroyed, but "The stump of the roots in the earth with 
the band of iron" (Rome) and "brass" (Greece) of the 
old Babylonian kingdom is still left, and held by this 
"band" in the divided kingdom of "clay-iron" Turkey, 
from which stump shall grow another tree of the same 
old idolatrous Babylonian type, bringing forth a nation 
filled with all kinds of wickedness, idolatry, and iniquity. 
The writer believes the old Babylonian Empire will be 
restored and will become a great power in the world, 
politically, commercially and religiously. 

We find in the first ten verses of the 10th and 11th 
chapters of Genesis the account of the origin of that city, 



Comments on Daniel 



35 



called "Babel," afterwards called Babylon, grown great 
and powerful in rebellion against God, founded by that 
great rebel, Nimrod (the name Nimrod means to rebel). 
This city was the mother of idolatry and wickedness of 
all kinds, — they began there — that has corrupted the 
whole earth from that day to this; the hand-maid of 
Satan in every enterprise possible to ensnare mankind 
and lead them away from their Creator to destruction. 
As Seiss has well set forth in vol. Ill of his excellent 
work on "The Apocalypse." He says, "The wine of old 
Babylon's fornication was a debauching system of idol 
worship and carnal self-exaltation, over against the 
revelation and the institutes of Jehovah." 

Babylon to Be Again Destroyed 

There it all began in the early history of the world 
after the flood, and there it will be ended by Jehovah, 
Himself, in a mighty cataclysmic overthrow and destruc- 
tion of the restored city of Babylon and the kingdom, 
with all the systems of religion and idolatry and wicked- 
ness together, at the end of the age, in the "Day of the 
Lord," when He shall come. (Isa. 13:6-11, 19-22). 

Some say all these prophecies concerning Babylon have 
been fulfilled. 

How do they read God's word in the prophecies? In 
Isaiah, chapter 13, for example, "The burden of Baby- 
lon which Isaiah the son of Amos did see," v. 1. 

"And Babylon, the glory of kingdoms, the beauty of 
the Chaldeans' pride, shall be as when God overthrew 
Sodom and Gomorrah." (v. 19). They were entirely 
consumed by fire. Has the prophetic statement of this 
verse ever been fulfilled in history concerning Babylon? 



36 



Comments on Daniel 



Nothing in all history will confirm it. Now read the 
three verses following the 19th. "It shall never be in- 
habited, neither shall it be dwelt in from generation to 
generation, neither shall the Arabian pitch his tent there; 
neither shall the shepherd make his fold there," etc. 
Never yet has Babylon been desolated as above described. 
God's word tells us so, and history confirms it. I Pet. 
5:13, says, "The church that is at Babylon, elect together 
with you, salute you," etc. 

This was written about the time of the persecutions 
of Nero, A. D. 64. Babylon was not so desolated before 
that date, for Peter had a church there then. From that 
date to the present time, no history tells us, that either 
Babylon, the city, or the kingdom has been desolated as 
above prophesied. 

This prophecy must certainly be fulfilled. Read also 
Jer. 50:33-40, there is no history corresponding to the 
conditions here described. This is still future and yet 
to be fulfilled, and in order to be fulfilled, Babylon must 
again become a great city and nation, "From the stump 
of the roots with a band of iron and brass," etc. Again ; 
read Jer. 51 :36-44, Sheshack (v. 41) is another name for 
Babel, which means Babylon. Where in all history have 
we any account that will correspond to the fulfillment of 
what is described in these passages ? They must- be ful- 
filled or God's word has no meaning. 

Concerning the first destruction of Babylon as prophe- 
sied in Isa. 13:17, the Lord said, "Behold I will stir up 
the Mede against them." Over a hundred years later, 
in Jer. 51:11-14, the prophecy was repeated. That 
prophecy was completely fulfilled about a hundred years 
later. Did the Lord not do it? History and Daniel 



Comments on Daniel 



37 



(ch. 5) asserts that He did. In Isa. 14:24, we read, 
"The Lord of hosts hath sworn saying surely I have 
thought, so shall it come to pass," etc. In the next verse 
He says, "That I will break the Assyrian in My land," 
etc. In Jer. 25:15-33, we have an account also of what 
the Lord says He will do, that has not yet been fulfilled. 
The last part of v. 26 especially refers to the king of 
Sheshack (Babylon) "that he shall drink after them" (the 
other nations) referring to the wine of the Lord's fury, 
spoken of in v. 15. Both of these prophecies will be ful- 
filled in the "Day of the Lord." Will He not do it? 
He surely will. How will He do it, except Babylon is 
rebuilt and the nation restored? When all these prophe- 
cies are fulfilled, Babylon will become a perpetual desola- 
tion. If all the prophetic declarations of the first destruc- 
tion, written by Isaiah and the other prophets, have been 
fulfilled, why may we not expect the prophecies of the 
second destruction to be fulfilled? These were also writ- 
ten by the same prophets. Isaiah 13:9, 20-22, and Jer. 
51 :60-64, are declarations of the sudden and violent man- 
ner of Babylon's final destruction. In Rev. 18:21, is 
another account of the sudden and violent manner in 
which Babylon will be destroyed. Thus we have three 
separate accounts, prophetically given, of this final de- 
struction of Babylon. Can any one who believes God's 
word doubt for a moment that these prophecies will be 
fulfilled? Some may claim John's account, in Rev. 18:21, 
was quoted from Jeremiah. How can it be? 

Jeremiah, by the guidance of The Holy Spirit, "Wrote 
in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon." 
. . . "And Jeremiah said to Seraiah, "When thou comest 
to Babylon, then see that thou read all these words." 



38 



Comments on Daniel 



. . . "And it shall be, when thou hast made an end of 
reading this book, that thou shalt bind a stone to it, and 
cast it into the midst of Euphrates: And thou shalt say, 
Thus shall Babylon sink, and shall not rise again because 
of the evil that I will bring upon her: and they shall be 
weaty." (Jer. 51:60-64). In Rev. 18:21, John, guided 
by The Holy Spirit, says, "And a strong angel took up 
a stone as it were a great millstone, and cast it into the 
sea saying, Thus with a mighty fall shall Babylon, the 
great city, be cast down, and shall be found no more at 
all." In the face of these written statements who can 
say John quoted from Jeremiah? 

The Headless Image 

Let us turn to Daniel 2 :44, and read, "And in the 
s days of those kings shall the God of heaven set up a king- 

dom, which shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sover- 
eignty thereof be left to another people ; but it shall break 
in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall 
stand forever." In the days of what kings, we would ask. 
In the days of the kings of these kingdoms represented in 
the great and terrible' image which Nebuchadnezzar saw 
in his vision (Dan. 2:31). Then in Daniel 2:45, 
Nebuchadnezzar was told, "Forasmuch as thou sawest that 
a stone was cut out of the mountain without hands and 
that it brake in pieces the iron (kingdom), the brass, the 
clay, the silver, and the gold (kingdoms), the great God 
hath made known to the king what shall come to pass 
hereafter," etc. Now let us see what of these kingdoms 
are in existence at the present time, and which shall be 
broken in pieces "by the stone cut out of the mountain 
without hands." The Iron kingdom represented in the 



Comment* on Daniel 



39 



image by Rome, "Legs of iron." 'had been in existence 
about two centuries before the days of Daniel, but it did 
not become a world power until after the downfall of 
Greece, which was about a century and a half before the 
days of Christ. About the middle of the fourth century 
A. D. it was divided, and a century and a half later it 
had shrunken to the size of the Italian Peninsula in 
Europe, and is in existence at the present time. 

The kingdom of Brass is represented in the belly and 
sides of the image by Greece, which conquered the Medo- 
Persian kingdom a little more than two centuries after 
Daniel saw his vision of the ram and the he-goat. In 
about thirty-two years, it was divided into four king- 
doms, which had run their course and collapsed by the 
middle of the last century before Christ. 

The Empire of Greece was gone, but Hellas, the home 
of the Greek, remained a nation until the fall of Constan- 
tinople, captured by the Turks, when it seemingly ceased 
to exist for about three and a half centuries, when it was 
again revived in the year 1822. and has existed as a king- 
dom ever since. 

The Clay, or clay-iron, kingdom is represented in the 
feet of the image by Turkey, the history of which is given 
in Chapter One. The Empire of Turkey has departed, 
but as a nation it is still in existence. 

The Silver kingdom is represented in the breasts and 
arms of the image by Persia, which was at the height of 
its power in the days of Daniel and fell as a world-power 
when overrun by Alexander the Great and his Grecian 
army, but it has existed as a nation down to the present 
day. But where is the kingdom that represents the head 
of Gold in the image? All the other nations represented 



40 



Comments on Daniel 



in the image are in existence except the head that was of 
gold, which was Babylon, and which was destroyed by 
the decree of the holy watcher. (Dan. 4:23). "Hew the 
tree down and destroy it, nevertheless leave the stump 
of the roots thereof in the earth, even with a band of 
iron and brass, in the tender grass of the field, and let it 
be wet with the dew of heaven." How will the God of 
heaven fulfill His prophetic declaration of Daniel 2:44, 
45, unless the Babylonian kingdom, the head of gold of 
the image, is restored? The writer believes this is now 
about to take place in the history of the world. When 
Babylon is rebuilt, then the image will not be headless 
and all else will be fulfilled. "And in the days of those 
kings shall the God of heaven set up a kingdom, which 
shall never be destroyed, nor shall the sovereignty thereof 
be left to another people; but it shall break in pieces and 
consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever." 

Praise the Lord. 



Comments on Daniel 



41 



CONCISE COMPARISON OF PROPHECY AND 
HISTORY 



Prophecy 
"And this whole land shall be 
a desolation; and an astonish- 
ment: and these nations shall 
serve the king of Babylon 
seventy years." (Ter. 25:11). 



(1) 
Vision 

"As for this image, his head 
was of fine gold." (Dan. 2:32). 

Interpretation 
"Thou art the head of gold." 
(Dan. 2:38). 



History 

"And them that escaped from 
the sword carried he away to 
Babylon; and they were serv- 
ants to him and his sons until 
the reign of the kingdom of 
Persia." (2 Chron. 36:20, 21). 



(1) 

The king of Babylon ruled 
over "The Dominion" (Gen. 
15:18) from about 496 B. C. 
to 426 B. C. when Babylon was 
destroyed and "The Dominion" 
passed under the rule of 



(2) 
Vision 

"His breasts and arms of silver." 
(Dan. 2:32). 

Interpretation 
"After thee shall arise a king- 
dom inferior to thee." (Dan. 
2:39). 



(2) 

Persia, which ruled over "The 
Dominion" about 299 years, 
when it passed under the rule 
of 



(3) 
Vision 

"His bellv and thighs of brass." 
(Dan. 2:32). 

Interpretation 
"And another, third kingdom 
of brass." (Dan. 2:39). 



(3) 

Greece, which ruled over "The 
Dominion" about 300 years, 
when it passed under the rule 
of 



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Comments on Daniel 



(4) 
Vision 
"His legs of iron." 
(Dan. 2:33). 

Interpretation 
"And the fourth kingdom shall 
be strong as iron," etc. (Dan. 
2:40). 



(5) 
Vision 

"His feet part of iron and part 
of clay." (Dan. 2:33). 

Interpretation 
"And whereas thou sawest the 
feet and toes, part of potters' 
clay and part of iron, it shall 
be a divided kingdom; but 
there shall be in it of the 
strength of the iron, foras- 
much as thou sawest the iron 
mixed with miry clay. And 
as the toes of the feet were 
part of iron, and part of clay, 
so the kingdom shall be partly 
strong, and partlv broken," etc. 
(Dan. 2:41, 42,^43). 
"And in the days of those kings 
shall the God of Heaven set 
up a kingdom which shall 
never be destroyed, nor the 
sovereignty thereof be left to 
another people; but it shall 
break in pieces and consume 
all these kingdoms and it shall 
stand forever." (Dan. 2:44). 



(4) 

Rome, which ruled over "The 
Dominion" about 633 years, 
when it passed under the rule 
of The Mohammedan power. 



(5) 

Saracen and Turk, which has 
ruled over "The Dominion" 

i from about 633 A. D. to 
the present time, 1918. But 

! (Prophecy) Babylon will be 
revived "From the stump of 
the roots thereof." (Dan. 4:23). 

| After that, The Assyrian shall 
again rule over "The Do- 
minion." "That I will break 
the Assyrian in my land, and 
upon my mountain tread him 
under foot: then shall his yoke 
depart from off them, and his 
burden depart from off their 
shoulders." "For the Lord of 
hosts hath purposed, and who 
shall disannul it, and His hand 
is stretched out, and who shall 
turn it back?" (Isa. 14:25, 27). 



Chapter Three 



THE VISIONS OF DANIEL AS RECORDED IN 
CHAPTER SEVEN 

The First Beast Does Not Represent Nebuchadnezzar's 
Kingdom as Claimed, But England 

Chapters 5 and 6 are omitted, because they are his- 
torical. Beginning with v. 1, which reads, "In the first 
year of Belshazzar, king of Babylon, Daniel had a dream 
and visions of his head upon his bed: then he wrote the 
dream and told the sum of the matter." Daniel was 
then an old man. He says he saw the visions in the first 
year of the reign of Belshazzar. Verses 30, 31, of ch. 5, 
gives the death of that king. So that Daniel had this 
dream about three years before the events given in chs. 
5 and 6. Daniel wrote the account of these visions in 
the Chaldaean language as they did not directly concern 
Israel, but the rest of the world. He was in Babylon at 
the time he saw the visions. In v. 2, Daniel speaks of 
seeing by night, and says, "And behold, the four winds 
of heaven brake forth upon the great sea." "The great 
sea" usually refers to the Mediterranean, but that is not 
the case here, for the angel Daniel talked with, says in 
v. 17, The beasts are kings, which shall arise out of the 
earth. Isa. 17:12 speaks of the "Uproar of many peoples, 
which roar like the roaring of the sea," etc. So that we 
conclude that the expression, "The great sea," here means, 



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"nations in commotion." V. 3 reads, "And four great 
beasts came up from the sea, diverse one from another." 

A Statement of Things to Come 

Now what is this we are about to consider? In read- 
ing through the chapter we find it is a vision of things 
to come, and was still in the future to Daniel, at the time 
he saw them. Bear this in mind. It was not things of 
the past, nor things of the present, that were coming along 
at the time Daniel saw the vision, but things that were 
coming upon the earth at some future time, to Daniel. 
They may be in the past, present or future to us now, or 
only partly so, but to Daniel they were all in the future. 
(Dan. 7:17). This is very important for us to remem- 
ber, as we will see further on. 

We also find that in v. 17, the angel uses the word 
"kings," and in v. 23, the word "kingdom" and "king- 
doms," so that it follows that where there is a king men- 
tioned there is also his kingdom. The same thing occurs 
in Dan. 2:37 and 39. From the context, then, we con- 
clude that the word "king" and "kingdom" are here, 
sometimes used interchangeably, and these beasts represent 
kings and their kingdoms. 

The Description of the First Beast 

Daniel says, "The first beast was like a lion, and had 
eagle's wings : I beheld till the wings thereof were plucked, 
and it was lifted up from the earth, and made to stand 
upon two feet as a man, and a man's heart was given to 
it." (Dan. 7:4). Now where is, or was, or will there be 
found a king or kingdom that will correspond to the 
description of this beast? The traditional interpreters 



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45 



teach that the beast here described refers to Nebuchad- 
nezzar and his kingdom. We know that the Lord in 
Jer. 4:7, says, "A lion is gone up from his thicket," etc. 
Also in Jer. 25:9, He says, "And I will bring them 
(Nebuchadnezzar's army) against this land and against 
the inhabitants thereof and against all these nations round 
about: and I will utterly destroy them," etc. But at the 
time Daniel saw this vision, Israel's land and all the 
others had long before been laid waste, and the prophecy 
above quoted had been completely fulfilled. Jerusalem 
had been destroyed, and the people killed or carried away 
into captivity to Babylon, and Daniel was there as one of 
the captives. And also at this time, Nebuchadnezzar had 
been dead not less than twenty years, some say twenty- 
five. 

Belshazzar, his grandson, was the third king on the 
throne after him. He was the son of Nabonidus, and 
they two were then ruling the kingdom together. Now 
in the light of the interpretations given by the angel in 
v. 17, and on, how can it be possible then for the vision 
to refer to Nebuchadnezzar and his kingdom? In v. 16, 
Daniel says, "So he (the angel) told me and made me 
to know the interpretation of the things." Referring to 
Dan. 7:17, again, the angel said, "These great beasts are 
four kings, which shall arise out of the earth." He does 
not say they may arise, or have arisen, but "shall arise." 
That refers to future time. This was then yet in the 
future to Daniel, not in the present or past. How then 
could this refer to some kingdom of the past? Besides, 
the writer is unable to see that the other particulars of 
the vision correspond to the Babylonian Empire, or to 
Nebuchadnezzar. Daniel says, "The beast was like a 



46 Comments on Daniel 

lion." So far, it may correspond to Babylon and its king. 
But that alone is not sufficient to establish the similitude 
between the vision and nation. They must correspond 
in many particulars. May there not be other lions besides 
Babylon? The beast described in this vision has eagle's 
wings. Where is it stated that Nebuchadnezzar or his 
kingdom had eagle's wings. Jehovah in Ex. 19:4, speaks 
of bearing His people on eagle's wings. Is not this ex- 
pression used here as a symbol of power? If so, may it 
not be used in other places in God's word with the same 
significance? No doubt it has this same meaning in the 
4th verse of chapter 7. When and where was the power 
of the Babylonian Empire represented by eagle's wings, 
plucked before the time of the overthrow? This over- 
throw took place when Belshazzar was slain and his 
kingdom taken by the Medes and Persians, and Daniel 
was at that time in Babylon. 

He had seen this vision between two and three years 
before Belshazzar died. Also Daniel says of Nebuchad- 
nezzar in another chapter (Dan. 4:33), "His hair was 
grown like eagle's feathers" (not wings), which is the 
very opposite of being plucked. Then Daniel further 
says of this beast, "And it was lifted up from the earth, 
and made to stand upon two feet like a man, and a man's 
heart was given to it." The common interpretation of 
this passage is made to mean that a man's heart was given 
to Nebuchadnezzar, etc. 

But Daniel, 4:16, says, "Let his heart be changed from 
man's, and let a beast's heart be given to him," which is 
very opposite of what the interpreters say of it. He had 
a man's heart first, and God's word says let it be changed 
to a beast's. Whom shall we accept, the traditional inter- 



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47 



preters or God's interpreters? We have no account in 
God's word of that king's heart being changed from a 
man's and then back again to a beast's. 

How then can it be possible for this vision of Dan. 
7:4, to describe prophetically Nebuchadnezzar and his 
kingdom of the past? 

Daniel 7 14. May Be Descriptive of Some Kingdom 
of Today 

We have now noted some of the objections of the teach- 
ings of the traditional interpreters, given to this verse. 
Now let us see if we can find any better interpretation 
for it. We have referred to the fact that this is a vision 
of things to come, at the time Daniel saw it. Now in 
all Ancient or Medieval history where has there existed 
a nation or power, that has come upon the earth and 
passed away, that will at all match the description given 
of this beast in Dan. 7:4? We find none. We must 
then look for some nation now in existence, or wait for 
some nation to arise in the future, that will match this 
description. Daniel does not say of this beast that it will 
be at the time of the end, as he does some other beast. 

So far then as the matter of time is concerned, it may 
be in existence af the present time. In fact, from what 
Daniel does not say of this beast, as to time, and does say 
of some other beast further on, the presumption is reason- 
able that it does exist at the present time. Notice, when 
Daniel first saw the beast, it was like a lion, it had great 
power, it had eagle's wings, which in God's word is a 
symbol of power. The nation here described was at the 
height of its power when Daniel first saw it. Then he 



48 Comments on Daniel 



saw further on in point of time and he says, "I beheld 
till the wings thereof were plucked and it was lifted up," 
etc. That is, Daniel kept on looking at the beast until 
in the course of time one source of its power was taken 
away at least, and this beast was lifted up from the earth 
and made to stand upon its two feet (not four) like a 
man. What a marvelous thing for a beast to be made 
to do, to stand on two feet like a man, and of course it 
follows, to walk like a man. But the vision records a 
great step beyond this. Daniel says, "And a man's heart 
was given to it." The writer believes this thing has been 
and is now being done, in the year of our Lord 1920, 
right before our eyes. Daniel, by the gift of The Holy 
Spirit, says this symbolic beast is like a lion. Surely this 
vision was intended to set forth the characteristics of a 
nation or power that was like a lion, devouring things. 
Then this beast with such characteristics was changed to 
that of a man. A marvelous change takes place here. 
This beastly nation was made to become like a man. 
Who could possibly make such a change? The beast 
itself could not do it. No king or nation corresponding 
to the nature of a beast was ever known to do such a 
thing, without some outside help, yes, more than common 
help, made to do it, by some outside power. The world 
has no such history. 

Plenty of nations have gone the other way, yes, all of 
them, sunk lower and lower until they were destroyed. 
But never a nation like a beast has gone up in the scale 
like this one described by Daniel, without some exoteric 
force applied to it, working upon it and in it. A king or 
nation lifted up and changed. What force could do such 
a thing to a beastly nation, save the Spirit of Jehovah, 



Comments on Daniel 



49 



The Lord God of heaven and earth? And what kind 
of power would He use save the power of His Spirit? 
Some one may say, if this vision of Dam 7 :4, does not 
refer to the Babylonian kingdom, it must refer to some 
nation still in the future, that will yet come upon the 
earth. 

Such a statement being true, would necessarily defer 
for a very long time into the future, the coming of our 
Lord and annul many signs of the soon closing up of the 
present age which seems imminent. For it seems to the 
writer certain prophecies must yet be fulfilled before the 
Lord will come. 

It takes a long time, compared with the life of a man 
for a nation to come into existence and develop into a 
great world-power. All the nations referred to in these 
visions are world-powers. Even the United States of 
America has been more than a hundred and fifty years in 
developing into its present position and power. It is true 
that several nations may unite and form a mighty world- 
power in a short time, and such a combination is immi- 
nent at the present time, but that combination could not 
carry out, in a short time, the slow forming conditions of 
this beast described in Dan. 7 :4. We also hear some one 
say, "one day with the Lord is as a thousand years," etc. 
Yet the Lord has said, "The end shall be at the time ap- 
pointed." (Dan. 11:27). Now having the characteris- 
tics of this nation in the beast before us in God's word, 
if we can find a nation now in existence that matches these 
characteristics, may we not find in it, the fulfillment of 
the prophecy of Daniel ? 



50 



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England Corresponds to the Description of the Lion 

In looking about to find a nation at the height of its 
power that will match the description of this beast given 
in Daniel, 7 :4, we find none that so completely fits, as the 
nation England, the first of the world-powers of the last 
two or three centuries. This nation in the past has shown 
many characteristics of the lion. For more than three 
centuries English men traversed every sea and strait and 
every river, on every continent, in every clime from the 
Arctic Circle to Cape Horn, on the face of the globe, and 
wherever possible, set up England's flag, on the con- 
tinents, peninsulas or islands, and claiming them by right 
of discovery, and held them, until it has piled up terri- 
torial accessions beyond those of any other nation on the 
face of the earth. The history of many nations show 
growth in size and power by absorbing adjoining terri- 
tory, but that was not the way with England. Wherever 
an Englishman could go out into the world and set his 
foot and flag upon foreign lands, England held them by 
force until her colonial possessions girt the whole earth, 
numbering more than half a hundred, some of them ab- 
sorbing a whole continent, and the islands are almost 
innumerable. 

At the beginning of the 17th century when Scotland 
and England were united, the Island of Great Britain 
contained an area of less than 90 thousand square miles, 
with the addition of Ireland it was raised to less than 122 
thousand square miles, which does not exceed the size of 
the state of New Mexico. At the beginning of the present 
century, the population of these two islands did not ex- 
ceed 40 millions of people. In the year 1914, before the 
beginning of the late war, England's possessions amounted 



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51 



to an area of over 11 million square miles of territory, 
with a population of about 400 million people. In fact 
the above statement is inadequate to express the true state 
of things. Ramsay Muir, in his book called "The Ex- 
pansion of Europe," says, "The British Empire, the great- 
est dominion that has ever existed in history, which covers 
a quarter of the earth's surface, and in which a quarter 
of the earth's population is subject (at any rate, in form) 
to the rule of two small European islands." The above 
figures represent approximately what that lion, England 
has devoured of the earth's surface in the last three or 
four centuries. Is it not the beast described in Dan. 
7:4? 

Where in all history can any kingdom be found, that 
will compare with England, as the lion of any age, and 
which has devoured so much of the earth's surface? What 
the full significance of the expression, "And it was lifted 
up from the earth, and made to stand upon two feet as a 
man, and a man's heart was given to it," we may not be 
able to fully comprehend until it all takes place. But 
some things are evident. Has not this lifting up process 
been going on right before our eyes? Is it not discern- 
ible in the more humane treatment which England has 
been giving its subject nations and peoples, in the last 
fifty years or more, compared with the tyranny it prac- 
ticed upon the American colonies and others, about a 
century and a half ago? Note how many of England's 
dependencies have been given the power of self govern- 
ment. Even formerly oppressed Ireland, now has noth- 
ing of which to complain. With the growth of protes- 
tantism came the reformation of England, and the pro- 
cess of being lifted up began. God is answering the 



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prayers and labors of such men as John Wickliffe, William 
Tyndall, John Knox, Mathew Henry, the Wesleys, 
Whitefield, Mueller, and a host of others, who have 
passed over, and many others who are still living. The 
seat of the power of that great nation lies in the island of 
Great Britain. The late island-wide movement of the 
organization of the "Fellowship of Reconciliation," as it 
was called, is another step upward. It is the fellowship 
between the Nonconformists and the established church 
of England for prayer and the worship of God, and the 
revival of family worship in the homes of God's people. 
This came with the beginning of the late war. Does it 
not mean a better day spiritually for England? Is it not 
also in the process of the being "Lifted up from the 
earth," etc., even while its "Eagle's wings were being 
plucked by this late terrible war" ? Although God will 
punish the nation for its sins, will He forget the prayers 
and labors of those men, His servants who have labored 
among the people for the last three or four centuries? 
Who of God's people can believe it? Does not all this 
strongly point to England as being the lion with eagle's 
wings of Dan. 7:4? 



Chapter Four 



THE SECOND VISION OF DANIEL, THE BEAR. 
THE THIRD VISION OF DANIEL, THE 
LEOPARD 

How England, the Lion with Eagle's Wings, is being 
Plucked 

It has been shown that England, more than any other 
nation in history represents the lion with eagle's wings 
as described in Dan. 7 :4. Now the question may be 
asked, if this is so, how is England being plucked of its 
eagle's wings? It is true as a rule, though the king's 
word may be absolute authority, yet he represents the gen- 
eral characteristics of his people. 

As represented in God's word, the power of a sovereign 
beast rests in his autocracy, the more that is curtailed, the 
less his power. The Magna Charta granted by king 
John of England near the beginning of the 12th century 
limited the power of the autocratic throne of England, 
and has been the basis and root of all English liberties, 
which first protected only the barons from the oppression 
and tyrannical power of the throne. Then politically be- 
gan the plucking of the eagle's wings of the beast of 
England. 

From that little beginning, there has grown up through 
the centuries the franchise of the people, until the British 
Parliament on Feb. 6, 1918, passed the bill, which was 
signed by the king, giving the franchise to every male 

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Comments on Daniel 



citizen of England. Here has been going on a great poli- 
tical evolution, which was accelerated by the late war, 
which resulted in the plucking of the eagle's wings of the 
power of the throne of England. History tells of nations 
whose thrones have been destroyed similar to that of 
France, before, and many others, during the late war. 
But where in all history is there a nation whose sovereign 
power has been wrenched from the throne by the people, 
and the throne left standing as in England ? Some of the 
plucking of the eagle's wings economically of the beast 
England, caused by the late war, is seen in England's loss 
of the financial supremacy of the world, which has now 
passed to another nation. Also, a great body of Eng- 
land's merchant-marine, with all its wealth and power, 
lies beneath the waves of the sea, destroyed by the power 
of the leopard. The world supremacy of the merchant- 
marine may also pass to another nation, and the end is 
not yet. Is not the lion, England being plucked of its 
eagle's wings? Furthermore, at this writing comes word 
that King George of England has made proclamation of 
a new measure giving India a larger degree of self gov- 
ernment. "And is not the beast being made to stand upon 
two feet as a man and a man's heart being given to it" ? 
And is not the Lion, England being plucked of its eagle's 
wings? And does not England represent the beast of 
Dan. 7:4? Some may claim that the case is not proven, 
that England is the beast prophetically described in Dan. 
7 :4. Very truly, that time is not come. But who can 
show that England is not the beast prophetically described 
in Dan. 7 :4. Such will need to wait a very, very long 
time in the future, if it should be possible. We do not 
know how much longer the "Plucking" and the "Lifting 
up" may continue. 



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The Second Vision of Daniel, The Bear Does not Refer 
to Persia but to Russia 

Now let us consider the vision of Daniel described in 
Dan. 7:5. "And behold, another beast, a second, like a 
bear, and it was raised up on one side, and three ribs were 
in his mouth between his teeth : and they said thus unto it, 
Arise, devour much flesh." What a description and what 
a strange beast, to be like a bear and to be raised up on 
one side. Notice, Daniel saw it raised up on one side, 
and three ribs were in his mouth between his teeth, but 
not devoured. What does it mean? Ribs are here sym- 
bolically part of the sides of a beast. From what other 
beast or beasts were they taken? What does a bear do? 
Devour flesh, a bear characteristic. That was all the 
beast was to do, "Arise and devour much flesh." It was 
raised up on one side and was told to devour much flesh. 
That is all. Now let us see if we can find a nation that 
has only done this. This strange one-sided beast. 

The traditional interpreters claim this beast is repre- 
sented by the Medo-Persian Empire. Let us see if this 
is so. These visions of the four beasts were seen by 
Daniel while he was in Babylon in the first year of the 
reign of Belshazzar somewhere about two years or a little 
more before the Babylonian Empire was overthrown. 
In chapter 8 Daniel describes another vision of two 
beasts, that he saw in the third year of the reign of Bel- 
shazzar, the year in which he was killed when Babylon 
was taken by the Persians. This time Daniel was in 
Shushan, the capital of Persia, or Elam as it was then 
called. He was then in the palace of the king of the 
Medo-Persians, by the river Ulai, having gone there im- 
mediately after the capture of Babylon. We find then 



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that these two sets of visions, those of ch. 7, and ch. 8, 
were seen between two and three years apart. Daniel 
was a captive in the city of Babylon when he saw the 
visions of ch. 7. We also know that in that period, be- 
tween the first and second set of visions, Babylon and 
Medo-Persia were at war with each other. Both nations 
were then in existence and at the height of their power, 
the former one soon fell and the latter, became victorious 
over the former. Now let us again look at the statement 
of the angel in heaven of Dan. 7:17, He said, ''These 
great beasts, which are four, are four kings which shall 
arise out of the earth." Remember, this vision of Dan. 
7:5, was seen only between two and three years before 
the vision seen in Dan. ch. 8. So that the Medo-Persian, 
and Babylon were both at the height of their power when 
Daniel saw his visions. Therefore, according to the 
angel, Medo-Persia could not possibly be one of the 
kingdoms referred to by the angel when he said, "Are 
four kings, which shall arise," because the angel referred 
to kings or kingdoms, yet to arise out of the earth, and 
still in the future, while the Medo-Persian kingdom was 
present to Daniel. According to the angel then, so far as 
time is concerned the interpreters are incorrect. We can- 
not interpret the interpretations of the angel nor change 
his words. He said, "Shall arise," etc. That means 
future time, not present time, or past time. It would be 
a great presumption and an intrusion for us to change 
his words or interpretations. We can only comment on 
them. But let us look a little further into the vision of 
ch. 8, and the two beasts that Daniel saw while in the 
palace at Shushan. In v. 3, Daniel says, "Then I lifted 
up mine eyes and saw, and, behold, there stood before 
the river a ram which had two horns: and the two horns 



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57 



were high ; but one was higher than the other, and the 
higher came up last." Now let us turn to v. 20, and 
read. "The ram which thou sawest that had the two 
horns, they are the kings of Media and Persia." This is 
what The Angel Gabriel said. There can be no mistake 
here. Gabriel tells Daniel just who these kings were. 
So that now we have the testimony of two angels, one in 
heaven and the other on earth, which is very different 
from that of the interpreters. It is not the bear that 
represents the Medo-Persian kingdom, but the ram. These 
were the kings that had lately taken the Babylonian Em- 
pire in Daniels time. How then could the traditional in- 
terpreters make the beast like a bear of Dan. 7 :5, represent 
the Persian Empire? History gives us no account of 
Persia representing any of the characteristics described in 
the bear. Therefore, we must conclude that the tradi- 
tional interpreters, in making the beast like a bear, to 
represent the Medo-Persian Empire are incorrect. 

Russia the Nation that Corresponds to the Bear 

Now let us see if we can find in history any nation that 
will correspond in characteristics to the prophetic descrip- 
tion of the beast like a bear. 

There is a nation that has greatly developed in the last 
two or three hundred years all on one side. That nation 
in its development, among other conquests, has subdued 
and held by force of arms three other peoples and their 
territory that has not been merged into the nation that 
conquered them. 

That nation before the beginning of the late war oc- 
cupied a territory about seven thousand miles long and 
about one thousand five hundred miles wide, extending 
from the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia and the White Sea, 



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in northern and Western part of Europe, entirely across 
Europe and Asia, eastward to the Bering Sea, north of 
the Pacific Ocean, This nation held the greatest extent 
of solid territory of any nation on the face of the earth. 

This nation is Russia, which is so geographically lo- 
cated that it could not develop except on one side. The 
great natural barriers of water, ice, and snow of the 
north pole, with Norway and Sweden on the west, have 
prevented the growth of Russia in these directions. Only 
on the south and east, has it been possible for this nation to 
grow. So that in its development, "It was raised up 
on one side" and that side was the south-east side. "And 
three ribs were in his mouth between his teeth," when 
Daniel saw it. 

The three ribs are the sides of other nations, which 
were Poland, Caucassia and Turkestan. Does not the 
location and history of it exactly fit the Prophet's descrip- 
tion? Have we not here in this one little verse of only 
thirty-eight words a most marvelous description, given 
more than two thousand years ago, of a nation not then in 
existence, at the time the prophecy was given, but now 
standing out before the world, a complete representation 
of the beast like a bear, as described in Dan. 7 :5. What 
does this prophecy say this beast like to a bear shall do? 
"Arise devour much flesh." 

How completely this prophecy has been and is being 
fulfilled. The whole history of the rule of this nation 
from its earliest date down to the present time, is one 
of war, oppression and bloodshed, both to its own people, 
in the history of their banishment, and the thousands that 
have been conquered. 

What more was this beast to do ? Devour much flesh, 
that is all. 



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These Prophetic Fulfillments, a Proof of the Truth of 
God's Word. 

What greater or stronger evidence of the truth and 
genuineness of the book of Daniel can be found or asked 
for, than the fulfillment of these wonderful proprecies? 
What stronger proof that this is the very word of God 
can be given? Can it not be seen, that one of the great- 
est proofs of the truth of the word of God, is found in 
the word itself, so deep and so profound that Satan and 
all his demons, and all the so-called higher critics and all 
their aping followers can never overthrow it? This Rus- 
sian beast has been continually seeking to occupy the 
Straits at Constantinople. But. God has not permitted 
Gog of this land of Magog, whose chief prindls were 
Rosh, Meshech and Tubal, to come any further south. 
This beast was turned back at the time of the Crimean 
war, and now he has been turned back again and the 
three "ribs," Poland, Caucassia, and Turkestan have 
been wrenched from between his teeth. This beast nation 
having lost its autocratic ruler, in the late war, the gov- 
ernment is now in chaos and ruin, and rioting, anarchy 
and murder are rampant, and the atrocities of those who 
have no fear of God before their eyes, beggars descrip- 
tion. Notice how another prophecy concerning Israel is 
being litterly fulfilled in the punishment by imprison- 
ment, despoiling and death of the ruling classes of this 
nation, at the hands of the Bolsheviki revolutionists. In 
Jer. 30:16, the Lord said, concerning His people, "There- 
fore all they that devour thee shall be devoured : and all 
thine adversaries, every one of them, shall go into cap- 
tivity: and they that spoil thee shall be a spoil, and all 
that prey upon thee will I give for a prey." How com- 



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pletely this prophecy is being fulfilled in Russia at the 
present time, because of its persecutions of the Jewish 
race in the past. 

There is much prophetic history yet to be fulfilled in 
chapters 38 and 39 of Ezekiel and Rev. 20:7-9, in which 
this beast will participate before it will cease to devour 
much flesh and be fully overthrown and completely 
destroyed. 

The Vision of Daniel as Found in Verse Six, the 
Leopard Does not Represent Greece but the 
"Central Powers'' 

Daniel says, "After this I beheld, and lo another, like 
a leopard, which had upon the back of it four wings of a 
fowl; the beast had also four heads; and dominion was 
given to it." The traditional interpreters try to main- 
tain that the beast described in this vision represents the 
Grecian Empire under Alexander the Great. Let us see. 
In Daniel chapter 8, we have an interpretation of that 
vision in which Gabriel says the rough he-goat is the king 
of Greece, and the great horn between his eyes is the first 
king. (v. 21). Now here is a controversy between these 
old interpreters and the angel Gabriel. As they both 
cannot be correct, which shall we accept, the angel or the 
other interpreters? Can we have two beasts so widely 
different as the leopard and the goat, each correctly rep- 
resenting the same kingdom, Greece? How can the 
clumsy rough goat be made to represent the same king- 
dom as the lively spotted beast, the leopard? Can the 
leopard change his spots and become like a goat? Is it 
reasonable to maintain that The Holy Spirit would repre- 
sent the same kingdom to Daniel in one chapter of His 



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word as a leopard, and in the next, as a he-goat? The 
leopard has four wings of a fowl on his back, which the 
old interpreters say represents swiftness. In Exodus 
19:4, eagle's wings represent power. What do the four 
wings of a fowl on the back of the leopard represent, if 
they do not also represent power, but a different kind of 
power, than that of eagle's wings? The word fowl or 
the wings of a fowl, as a rule in God's word have a very 
different reputation than that of the wings of the eagle. 
(Mar. 4:4, 15). 

The natural characteristics of the leopard is swiftness, 
and with the four wings of the fowl on his back, would 
there not be both swiftness and power, and the same kind 
of power that is represented by the wings of a fowl? 
(Lu. 8:5, 12). The traditional interpreters also say, the 
four heads represent the four kingdoms into which 
Greece was divided. How can this be? 

Daniel says, "The beast had also four heads," not was 
divided into four heads. The leopard being divided into 
four heads would not correctly represent the kingdom 
or power, The Holy Spirit intended it to represent. 

The beast had four heads, which is very different from 
being divided into four heads. The angel, referring to 
Alexander and his kingdom, Greece, in Dan. 1 1 :3, 4, 
says, "And when he shall stand up his kingdom shall be 
broken, and shall be divided toward the four winds of 
heaven, but not to his posterity," etc. This was in the 
future to Daniel, when the angel uttered it, but it is now 
in the past to us as well as Daniel. We can see that his- 
tory has fully confirmed all that the angel had said, that 
Greece was divided into four heads, and thus could not 
represent the leopard, which had four heads. So that we 



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must conclude that the traditional interpreters are again 
incorrect. Now since it is determined that the third vision 
of Dan. 7 :6, does not represent Greece, it will be asked 
what nation does this beast represent? 

The "Central Powers'" in the late War Correspond to 
the Leopard 

In the last century or two, there has sprung into promi- 
nence, a nation in central Europe formed out of the union 
of smaller states, tribes and kingdoms, with three heads, 
called in English, Germany. The most powerful and 
energetic of these smaller kingdoms that were united into 
the larger kingdom, was Prussia, with the house of 
Hohenzollern on the throne, which became the ruler of 
the empire. The other two heads are Austria and Hun- 
gary. 

This growing power gained a noted victory over France 
in war, in the latter part of the nineteenth century. 
Within the last two decades this empire formed an al- 
liance with Turkey, adherants of the Mohammedan reli- 
gion, which is the fifth kingdom that make up the prophe- 
tic image described in Daniel chapter 2, and which has 
dominated Southern, Central and Western Asia and the 
Dominion (Palestine) for the last twelve centuries. By 
this alliance, the writer believes the third beast of Dan. 
7:6, was formed with its four heads, Prussia, Austria, 
Hungary and Turkey, thus constituting the beast, "Like 
a leopard," which by virtue of the alliance, held the 
Dominion until it was taken by the English and allied 
forces. 



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When the Alliance was Discovered 

It is said this alliance came to light in the year 1903, 
when it was discovered by the English, simultaneously 
with the German attempt to get a concession for a rail- 
way terminus at Koweyt on the Persian Gulf. The Tur- 
kish government was bringing all kinds of pressure to bear 
upon an independent Arabian Shiek at that place, to in- 
duce him to accept Turkish nationality and title along 
with Turkish Sovereignty over his ancient domain, which 
he positively refused to do, and also refused the German 
request, but more definitely allied himself with English 
friendship. Except a very small part of Arabia laying 
along the Persian Gulf, at Koweyt, Turkey has held al] 
the territory in Asia south of the Black and Caspian Seas 
including Syria and Palestine for many centuries, which 
by virtue of the alliance with Germany, as before stated, 
came under the power of the league. 

The above being true, we have good reason to believe 
that the prophecy of Dan. 7 :6, was fulfilled not later than 
the year 1903, or when that league between Germany and 
Turkey was formed. About August 1st, 1914, this 
leopard beast, now called the "Central Powers," began a 
war of conquest in Europe and Asia, which for more than 
four years had continued with uncertain results, when the 
allied forces, led by the English, in Turkey, captured 
Syria and destroyed the power of the Turkish army; and 
soon after, the combined armies of the allies and of 
America, in Europe, drove the Germans out of France, 
when the "Central Powers," representing the leopard, 
collapsed. There was plainly to be seen, the characteris- 
tics of the leopard with the four wings of a fowl on his 
back, in the "Central Powers," by the manner in which 



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they sprang upon the nations, and the relentless cruelty 
they displayed in destroying them. The Dominion had 
been given into the hands of this beast for not less than 
fifteen years by the formation of their league in the year 
1903. So that we believe, the prophetic declaration of 
Daniel 7 :6, has here been completely fulfilled. 



Chapter Five 

THE FOURTH BEAST OF CHAPTER SEVEN 
IS NOT ROME, BUT IS YET TO BE DE- 
VELOPED OUT OF THE REMAINS OF 
THE LEOPARD 

We will now consider the vision as recorded in v. 2. 
Daniel says, "After this I saw in the night visions, and 
behold a fourth beast, terrible, and powerful, and strong 
exceedingly ; and it had great iron teeth : it devoured and 
brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with his feet: 
and it was diverse from all the beasts that were before it * 
and it had ten horns." It will be noticed that the 
description of this beast is not at all like those of the 
three first beasts. Also, the first beasts did not succeed 
each other, as the kingdoms described in Daniel ch. 2,, 
did, by being raised up upon the downfall of the one pre- 
ceding it, and occupying practically the same territory, 
but the three beasts in ch. 7, coexist occupying different 
territory largely, and are trampeled upon by this fourth 
beast. The traditional interpreters generally make the 
Roman Empire to represent the fourth beast, as though it 
referred to the fourth kingdom of chapter 2, and was iden- 
tical with it, But the writer can find no such relation 
existing, expressed or implied in God's word. God's word 
nowhere says, so far as the writer can find, that there are- 
only four kingdoms represented :n the image, while the 
text and the construction Torh plainly show that there are 



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five, and this is confirmed by history. Besides, the beast 
of v. 7 had ten horns when Daniel first saw it. When in 
all the history of the Roman Empire did it have ten kings 
in existence, ruling at the same time, and when did an- 
other king arise within the empire, and subdue three 
kings? The interpreted meaning of horns is' kings, and 
that is what the, angel says will take place in this interpre- 
tation (v. 24). Some say the JRx>man Empire is to be 
revived, and then all these .things will be fulfilled. Where 
in God's word does . it say the Roman Empire, or any 
empire, is to be revived, that will fulfill the conditions of 
this prophecy? If the Roman Empire is to be revived, we 
'would expect it to occupy the same territory with its 
capital at the old city of Rome. If Babylon is to be re- 
vived, we would expect it to be restored upon the same 
old : territory and its capital to be at Babylon. The king- 
dom of the Son of Man is to be set up- but not revived, fol- 
ic ; has not yet been set up, ' although the kingdom of heaven 
was ; at hand (Mat. 4:17) when He was on earth, but His 
town people killed Him, He arose from the dead, and went 
back to glory, < and left the kingdom of heaven on earth 
without a king, and has hot yet come to set up His king- 
dom, which He will, yet do. (Dan. 7:14; Micah 4:7). 
The angel also says this beast (the little horn), besides 
other' things, "Shall think to change times and law, and 
they shall be given into his hands until a time, and times, 
and half a time." (v. 25). The angel also says, "And 
they shall take away his (the beast's) dominion to con- 
sume and to destroy it unto the end." "Unto the end." 
This is the determining point. 

This takes place, then, . at the end of the age, and is yet 
in the future. 



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Now if the Roman Empire is to be revived, where does 
it come in ? Rome as an empire ceased to exist more than 
twelve centuries ago, and the dominion it held has been 
held by another kingdom. It is claimed that the world 
is Roman today because there is left its dead language, 
its literature, and its modified laws, and give this as a 
reason for the revival of the kingdom. 

If the Roman Empire is to be revived because of these, 
so also, for the same reason can the same thing be said of 
the Empire of Greece, which existed before the Roman, 
with its language, literature, arts, sculpture and games, 
which also exist today. How can it be said these empires 
exist today? 

Their dominion is held by another. The Grecian was 
divided into four kingdoms, and the Roman into many 
more. How could the Roman Empire be made to repre- 
sent the fourth beast in the past, or how can it be made 
to do so in the future, since the kingdom representing 
this beast, when it does come, is to continue to the end? 
We have shown by the words of the angel, that Rome 
could not have represented this beast in the past; how 
can Rome represent this beast in the future? But the 
interpretation of the angel of this vision of Daniel in this 
chapter 7 will bring this out more clearly further on. 

Things to Come Seen in Heaven 

.After Daniel saw the vision of the three horns plucked 
up by the roots, and the eyes of the conquering little horn 
like a man's and a mouth speaking great things, the scene 
changes and Daniel sees things to come in heaven, (vs. 
9, 10). Then he sees till thrones were placed. Now 
follows a description of what Daniel saw of the Lord 



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God Almighty, and he describes what he saw. Isaiah, 
in 6:1-4, in a vision, tells what he saw of Him. Ezekiel, 
in ch. 1, tells what he saw of Him, and John, in Revela- 
tion, in chs. 4, 5, tells what he saw of Him. The re- 
deemed will also see Him! Praise the Lord! Daniel 
saw the thousand thousands that administered unto Him, 
and the great multitude that stood before Him. "The 
judgment was set." What judgment was set, and made 
ready, may we ask? Surely not the last judgment of the 
great white throne? That will not come till after the 
kingdom of Christ is set up and the millennial reign of 
Christ is past. (Rev. 20:5, 11-15). Is not this preparing 
judgment for "The little horn" that Daniel had been 
describing, and the living nations that are followers of 
the little horn, when Christ comes, just before the mil- 
lennial reign begins? This is undoubtedly the judgment 
described in Joel 3:1-21, and Mat. 25:31-46, and takes 
place on earth at the time of the destruction of the little 
horn. (Rev. 19:11-15). "And the books were opened." 
(Dan. 7:10). What books, may we ask? The Book of 
Remembrance (Mai. 3:16), and the Book of Life 
(Phil. 4:3). 

Daniel still speaking says, "I beheld at that time be- 
cause of the voice of the great words which the horn 
spake ; I beheld even till the beast was slain, and his body 
destroyed, and he was given to be burned with fire." 

Again the curtain is lifted, to see things in heaven, and 
we have the description of the Son of man, and what He 
received (vs. 13, 14), which undoubtedly is identical 
with the more detailed account of the same scene which 
John saw, and described in Rev. ch. 5. Now let us turn 
to v. 15, where Daniel, grieved in spirit, asked one of 



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69 



the heavenly attendants the meaning of the vision that 
troubled him. Do you think the heavenly hosts do not 
know what is going on down here on the earth ? Will we 
not know also when we come into the heavenly habita- 
tion ? If Daniel had been like many of God's people seem 
to be, he would not have been so anxious to know what 
is coming to pass upon the earth. We spend our days, 
months and years reading things that we call knowledge, 
and know very little of what is in God's word, while it 
is the only thing that will last through the ages to come. 
Most of the so-called knowledge and literature will pass 
into oblivion forever. 

God's wonderful word is true and exact, and should 
we not know it? For it will last forever. (Ps. 119:89, 
Isa. 40:8). 

The Interpretation of Daniel's Vision of the Fourth Beast 

Now in v. 17 begins the interpretation of the vision of 
the fourth beast, which the traditional interpreters say 
means Rome. Then the angel tells him, "These great 
beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise 
out of the earth." How quickly in the next verse he also 
adds, "But the saints of the Most High shall receive the 
kingdom, and possess the kingdom, forever, even forever 
and forever." Praise the Lord! Then Daniel said, "I 
desired to , know the truth concerning the fourth beast, 
which was diverse from all of them, exceeding terrible, 
whose teeth were of iron, and his nails of brass; which 
devoured, brake in pieces, and stamped the residue with 
his feet; and concerning the ten horns that were on his 
head, and the other horn which came up, and before 
which three fell ; even that horn that had eyes and a 



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mouth that spake great things, whose look was more stout 
than his fellows." Daniel says, "I beheld, and the same 
horn made war with the saints and prevailed against 
them; until the ancient of days came, and judgment was 
given to the saints of the Most High : and the time came 
that the saints possessed the kingdom, (vs. 19-22). Is 
there any possible room in this vision for the revival of 
the Roman Empire? The writer sees no reason, propheti- 
cal, biblical or historical, for making the fourth kingdom 
in the vision that Nebuchadnezzar saw and Daniel ex- 
plained to him in ch. 2, identical with the fourth beast 
described by Daniel in 7 :7. The former was the fourth 
kingdom in the make-up of the image, while the fourth 
beast in this vision of Daniel will appear at the end of 
the age. Neither does ch. 2, nor any other chapter say 
anything about the renewal or revival of the Roman Em- 
pire, and ch. 7 does not even hint at such a thing. Now 
whom shall we believe, the traditional interpreters or the 
angel? Let us consider this subject a little further. The 
angel in the vision that Daniel saw, continuing in v. 23, 
says, "The fourth beast shall be a fourth kingdom upon 
the earth, which shall be diverse from all the kingdoms, 
and shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, 
and break it in pieces." "Diverse from all kingdoms." Now 
let us look at this word "Diverse," in its different con- 
nections. We find that it occurs not less than four times 
in this chapter 7. It occurs first in v. 7, where- Daniel in 
describing the fourth beast of this chapter, says, "And it 
was 'Diverse' from all the beasts that were before it." 
It occurs next in v. 19, where Daniel is again describing 
this same fourth beast, where he says, "Which was 
'Diverse' from all of them." 

The third time it occurs is when the interpreting angel 



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(v. 16) in heaven in v. 23 says, "The fourth beast shall 
be a fourth kingdom which shall be 'Diverse' from all 
kingdoms," etc. The fourth time this word is used is in 
v. 24, where this same angel says, "And as for the ten 
horns, out of this kingdom, 'Shall ten kings arise': and 
another shall arise after them, and he shall be 'Diverse' 
from the former" (kings), etc. Thus, in the final king- 
dom at the end of the age, we shall have a kingdom^ 
''Diverse" from all the kingdoms, ruled over by this little 
horn or king, "Diverse" from all the kings. 

It will be noticed that three times the word "Diverse" 
is used referring to the same beast or kingdom, and once 
referring to the little horn or king of that kingdom. How 
or in what respect this fourth beast, king and kingdom 
will differ from all the kings and kingdoms, the angel 
does not say, and so far as the writer knows, we have no 
way of finding out except what is told us in God's word, 
until that kingdom is established. How can the tradi- 
tional interpreters be correct, for this angel distinctly say> 
the king and kingdom representing this fourth beast "Shall 
be Diverse (different) from all kingdoms," etc. Here 
then the angel has shut out all possibility of a revival of 
the Roman Empire of the past, if it could be revived. 

If revived, it must be, at least, enough like the old 
Roman Empire to be recognized as that empire. If it is 
enough like the old empire to be recognized as such, it 
would not match the description of the angel, "Diverse 
from all kingdoms." Therefore, how can we revive th'_ j 
old Roman Empire? 

Notice further, to only one of the four beast kingdoms 
representing the four beasts of chapter 7 was the Dominion 
given, and that one, as before stated,, was the leopard 



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kingdom. This is another strong confirmation that Baby- 
lon and the Medo-Persian kingdoms do not in any way 
represent the beasts of chapter 7. Because both Babylon 
and Persia held the Dominion during the life time of 
Daniel the prophet, and Greece, Rome and Turkey held 
it after his life time, before it was held by the leopard, 
or Central powers, how then is it possible with all these 
facts in view for the traditional interpreters to correctly 
maintain that the beasts of chapter 7 are represented in 
the kingdoms that are described in the image of chap- 
ter 2? But to continue, the angel further says, "And 
shall devour the whole earth, and shall tread it down, 
and break it in pieces." (v. 23). In vs. 24, 25, the angel 
continues his interpretation, saying, u And as for the ten 
horns, out of this kingdom shall ten kings arise: and 
another shall arise after them: and he shall be diverse 
from the former, and he shall put down three kings." 
And thus he will break up the kingdom of the league of 
£en kings, and make himself the autocratic ruler of it. 
Jie is the little horn of Daniel 7 :8. After his victory he 
becomes proud, haughty and wilful, bent upon destroying 
all other power and authority in the world, and all the 
people who do not follow him, setting up his own standard 
of law and making himself a god. 'And he shall speak 
words against the Most High, and shall wear out the 
saints of the Most High: and he shall think to change 
the times and the law; and they shall be given into his 
hands until a time and times and half a time." This will 
continue three and one-half years as above stated, until 
the judgment described in Dan. 7:10-12 takes place 
as stated by the angel in v. 26. We now have before 
us the prophetic description of a kingdom with which the 
Roman Empire with all its cruelties, or the Central 



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Powers with all their atrocities cannot compare ; a king- 
dom of great magnitude, power and terrible deeds, which 
is coming upon the earth at some future time, and that 
time is the time of the end ; and this kingdom will be de- 
veloped out of the leopard united with other kingdoms, 
as we shall see still further on. What will then become 
of the United States of America and the other nations 
of the Western Hemisphere? Man will then have had 
his day of trial, he will have tried to rule the world, which 
God gave- into his hands to rule, many centuries ago, and 
it will be found that he has made a total failure of it at 
every attempt. This last attempt will be the league of 
nations, with its ten kings, which was formed after the 
late war the world had with the leopard kingdom with 
its four heads. With the best of intentions- this league 
will start out with the purpose of keeping the peace of 
the world, to abolish war and all its attendant cruelties. 

The prophetic account above tells us what will be the 
outcome of that attempt, and how it failed. The angel, 
continuing in v. 27, tells Daniel and us what will then 
take place in the following words, "And the kingdom 
and the Dominion, and the greatness of the kingdoms 
under the whole heaven, shall be given to the people of 
the saints of the Most High: His kingdom is an ever- 
lasting kingdom, and all dominions shall serve and obev 
Him." 

Are you one of the saints of the Most High? 



Chapter Six 



THE LITTLE HORN AS RECORDED IN DAN- 
IEL CHAPTER EIGHT 

Does Not Represent Antiochus Epiphanes, But Is Identical 
With That of Chapter Seven 

Now let us take up the study of chapter 8, for in it 
we have another little horn to consider. Remarkable 
enough, the traditional interpreters, instead of making 
the little horns of chapter 7 and chapter 8 identical, as 
they did the fourth kingdom in ch. 2, and the fourth 
beast in ch. 7, they declare that these two little horns 
refer to two different persons, one of them to have lived, 
and the prophecy concerning him to have been fulfilled 
in the distant past, and the other is yet to be fulfilled in 
the future, at the end of the age. They say the little 
horn of ch. 7 is the coming anti-Christ, while that one of 
ch. 8 was typified by- Antiochus Epiphanes at the time of 
the Maccabees, an uprising of the Jews somewhere about 
170 B. C. 

Daniel saw this vision in the third year of the reign 
of Belshazzar. 

Recent archiological discoveries have confirmed the 
statement that Belshazzar did not complete the third 
year of his reign, but was killed, as Daniel implies, when 
Babylon was taken by the army of Cyrus, of the Medes 
and Persians, as described by Daniel in ch. 5, which no 

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doubt accounts for his being at Shushan in Elam by the 
River Ulai when he saw the vision, having gone there 
very soon after the fall of Babylon. Indeed, this is just 
what Josephus says — "Cyrus, son of Astyages, took Daniel 
to Persia with him." 

What Daniel Saw in This Vision 

Daniel says, "Then I lifted up mine eyes, and saw, 
and behold, there stood before the river a ram which had 
two horns : and the two horns were high ; but one was 
higher than the other, and the higher came up last." 
(Dan. 8:3). 

This is the first introduction in prophecy, in his own 
vision, that Daniel had to the kingdom of the Medes and 
Persians represented by the ram, in which he was then 
living, and which he had seen take possession of the Baby- 
lonian Empire. He noticed the high horn of the con- 
quering kingdom, and also noticed the horn representing 
Persia was higher. He further says in v. 4, "I saw the 
ram pushing westward, northward and southward," etc. 
This is just what the kingdom was then doing at the 
time Daniel saw the vision, and it was all in the present 
tense to Daniel. In v. 5, Daniel continues, saying, "And 
I was considering, behold, an he-goat came from the west 
over the face of the whole earth, and touched not the 
ground : and the goat had a notable horn between his 
eyes." Then in vs. 6, 7, Daniel tells what happened to 
the ram, and in v. 8, what became of the he-goat, how 
that when he became strong the great horn was broken, 
and how four notable horns came up toward the four 
winds of heaven. All of this latter part was then future 
to Daniel. 



» 



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The Little Horn of Chapter Eight 

In v. 9 begins the description of the little horn of ch. 8. 
He says, "And out of one of them came forth a little 
horn, which waxed exceeding great, toward the south, 
and toward the east, and toward the glorious land." But 
he does not say here when this would take place. In vs. 
10, 11, 12, Daniel tells what he saw concerning this little 
horn. "And it waxed great, even to the host of heaven; 
and some of the host and of the stars it cast down to the 
ground, and trampled upon them. Yea, it magnified 
itself, even to the prince of the host: and it took away 
from him the continual burnt offering, and the place of 
his sanctuary was cast down. And the host was given 
over to it together with the continual burnt offering 
through transgression; and it cast down truth to the 
ground, and it did its pleasure and prospered." 

Then in vs. 13, 14, Daniel tells what he heard the 
angels say that were talking to each other. 

Now, going back, let us consider these verses a little 
further. In v. 10, Daniel says in describing the little 
horn, "And it waxed great even to the host of heaven," 
etc. Host and stars, what can these expressions mean or 
refer to except to the Children of Israel, God's people? 
So we conclude, as is said, that this little horn cast down 
some of them and trampled upon them. Also in v. 11, 
Daniel says how he (the little horn) "Magnified him- 
self," etc., to the prince of this same host. Now what 
prince do the people of God have except the Messiah, 
the Prince of Peace? He is the only Prince that had a 
continual burnt offering, and a sanctuary upon which 
they were offered at Jerusalem. That is about what 
Gabriel says further on in his interpretation. In v. 12, 



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Daniel says all these were given over to the little horn 
through transgression, and he cast down truth to the 
ground and prospered. 

Then in vs. 13, 14, Daniel gives the account of the 
holy ones talking about these things, and telling him 
how long after these things began before this transgres- 
sion, that made everything desolate would be rectified. 
Is there any historical account extant that portrays any 
Grecian king coming up out of the breaking up of Alex- 
ander's kingdom that did any such things as are here 
prophetically described by Daniel? None have been 
found. Is not this all prophecy yet to be fulfilled in the 
future, at the end of the age? 

In v. 15, Daniel says, when he had seen the vision, he 
sought to understand it. Then some one, as the appear- 
ance of a man stood before him. He said, "Gabriel, 
make this man understand the vision." What pains were 
taken that Daniel should see it correctly and get the truth. 
Are God's people, in these times, anxiously seeking to 
understand God's wonderful revelation to them? Ought 
we not to be seeking to know His word, and what He 
says concerning these coming events? But let us con- 
tinue. Then Daniel says in v. 17, "So he came near where 
I stood, and when he came, I was afrighted, and fell upon 
my face: but he said unto me, 'Understand, O son of 
man; for the vision belongeth to the time of the end'." 

Time the Determining Point 

Let us notice this statement, "For the vision belongeth 
to the time of the end." It is the determining factor as 
to the time when the vision shall be fulfilled, not in the 
time of the Maccabees, or of Antiochus Epiphanes, but 
"At the time of the end." Daniel then, in v. 18, tells 



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how he fell asleep (fainted), and how Gabriel touched 
him and set him upright. Then Gabriel said in v. 19, 
"Behold, I will make thee know what shall be in the 
latter time of the indignation: for it belongeth to the 
appointed time of the end." Here the angel has told 
Daniel twice that the vision belongs to "The time of the 
end," and this time he adds "the appointed time of the 
end." 

Then in vs. 20 to 26, Gabriel begins and interprets 
the meaning of the vision of the ram and the he-goat. 
How, that the great horn that was between the eyes of 
the goat was the first king of Greece, which we now 
know was Alexander the Great. Then he says, "And for 
that which was broken, in the place whereof four stood 
up, four kingdoms shall stand up out of the nation, but 
not in his power." Now in v. 23, Gabriel continues his 
interpretation, describing the little horn of ch. 8, v. 9, 
which is to come out of one of the four kingdoms of 
Alexander, and which is to come at the time of the end. 
He says, "And in the latter time of their kingdom, when 
the transgressors are come to the full, a king of fierce 
countenance and understanding dark sentences shall stand 
up," etc. But before we go further, let us look at the 
peculiar construction of the expression, "And in the latter 
time of their kingdom," of v. 23. Latter time of whose 
kingdom, may we ask? It will be noticed that the plural 
pronoun "Their" refers back to the four kingdoms of 
v. 22, which stood out of Alexander's kingdom. If there 
is to be a latter time of their kingdom, and Gabriel says 
there is, of course there must have been a former time. 
Looking back, we see that the former time of their king- 
dom was when all these four kingdoms spoken of in v. 22 
were united under the rule of one king, Alexander the 



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Great, and before him, under the Persian ruler as one 
kingdom, and so on back. This being the case, and since 
Gabriel, under this condition, used the expression, "In 
the latter time of their kingdom," and by so doing he 
means and states that "When the transgressors are come 
to the full," at the time of the end; these four kingdoms, 
or their territory, above referred to, will be again united 
under one king, and that king will be the little horn of 
this chapter 8, and "Having a fierce countenance and 
understanding dark sentences," etc. Are we then to have 
two little horns coming at the same time of the end? 
Let us see. 

We will not consult the traditional interpreters further 
on this point, but listen to Daniel and the angels. 



COMPARISON OF THE LITTLE HORNS OF 
CHAPTERS SEVEN AND EIGHT 



What Daniel Saw and Heard 
Concerning the Little Horn 
Recorded in Chapter J 
*'I considered the horns, and, 
behold, there came up among 
them another horn, a little 
one, before which three of the 
first horns were plucked up by 
the roots: and, behold, in this 
horn were eyes like the eyes 
of a man, and a mouth speak- 
ing great things." (v. 8.) 

"I beheld at that time because 
of the voice of the great words 
which the horn spake ; I be- 
held even till the beast was 
slain, and his body destroyed, 
and he was given to be burned 
with fire." (v. 11). 



What Daniel Saw and Heard 
Concerning the Little Horn 
Recorded in Chapter 8 
"And out of one of them came 
forth a little horn, which 
waxed exceeding great, to- 
ward the south, and toward 
the east, and toward the glori- 
ous land." 

"And it waxed great, even to 
the host of heaven; and some 
of the host and of the stars it 
cast down to the ground, and 
trampled upon them." 
"Yea, it magnified itself, even 
to the prince of the host; and 
it took away from him the 
continual burnt offering, and 
the place of his sanctuary was 
cast down." 



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"I beheld, and the same horn I "And the host was given over 
made war with the saints, and to it together with the con- 
prevailed against them; until \ tinual burnt offering through 
the ancient of days came, and transgression; and it cast 
judgment was given to the down truth to the ground, and 
saints of the Most High; and it did its pleasure and pros- 
the time came that the saints pered." (vs. 9, 10, 11, 12). 
possessed the kingdom." (v. 21). ' 



The Interpretation by the 
Angel in Heaven of Chapter 7 

"Thus he said, the fourth 
beast shall be a fourth king- 
dom upon earth, which shall 
be diverse from all the king- 
doms, and shall devour the 
whole earth, and shall tread 
it down, and break it in 
pieces." (v. 23). 

"And as for the ten horns, out 
of this kingdom shall ten kings 
arise and another shall arise 
after them ; and he shall be 
diverse from the former, and 
he shall put down three kings." 
(v. 24). 

"And he shall speak words 
against the Most High, and 
shall wear out the saints of 
the Most High: and he shall 
think to change the times and 
the law; and they shall be 
given into his hand until a 
time and times and half a 
time." (v. 25). 



The Interpretation by Gabriel 
on Earth of Chapter 8 

"And in the latter time of their 
kingdom, when the transgres- 
sors are come to the full, a 
king of fierce countenance, and 
understanding dark sentences, 
shall stand up." 



"And his power shall be 
mighty, but not by his own 
power; and he shall destroy 
wonderfully, and shall prosper 
and do his pleasure ; and he 
shall destroy the mighty ones 
and the holy people." 

"And through his policy he 
shall cause craft to prosper in 
his hand ; and he shall mag- 
nify himself in his heart, and 
in their security shall he des- 
troy many: he shall also stand 
up against the prince of 
princes ; but he shall be broken 
without hand." (vs. 23, 24, 25). 



TIME 

"But the judgment shall sit 
and they shall take away his 
dominion, to consume and to 
destroy it unto the end." 
(v. 26). 



WHEN 

"But he said unto me, Under- 
stand, O son of man: for the 
vision belongeth to the time 
of the end." (v. 17). 



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Comments on the Above Comparison 

By comparing the accounts of the two angels describing 
the two horns in chapters 7 and 8, we see that each states 
truths about the horn he describes not stated by the other, 
but both state many things of each little horn, that describe 
either horn, and agree in common with both horns. 

But neither account contradicts nor conflicts in any 
way with what the other says. They both describe a 
little horn arising out of a kingdom at the time of the 
end. Both horns become very great and powerful, and 
both little horns destroy the whole earth by the kingdom 
over which he is ruling and prosper. Both horns make 
war with and destroy the saints of the Most High. Both 
speak great words against the Most High. Each exalts 
himself in his heart to the God of Heaven. Both en- 
deavor to change law, times and customs. Both contend 
with the Almighty, Himself, and both are destroyed with- 
out hand at the end. 

There Is Only One Little Horn 

Now if there are two separate "Little Horns" at the 
time of the end, as described by these two angels, will 
there not be also two persecutions and two destructions 
of the saints and of the earth, at the same time, "The time 
of the end"? If this is so, the writer would like to ask, 
will there not also be two sets of saints, or will there be 
the same saints to be persecuted and destroyed twice? 
There seems to be only one of two alternatives here; 
either there will be two "Little Horns" existing and 
operating at the same time, "The time of the end," or 
the horns of chapters 7 and 8 are identical — one and the 
same — and these two angels are describing one and the 



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same person. After carefully investigating this matter, 
who can believe otherwise? Therefore, we are forced to 
the conclusion that there is only one "Little Horn" 
described by the two angels of chapter 7 and chapter 8. 
One of these angels was in heaven and the other was on 
earth. The above being true, what a terrible picture 
The Holy Spirit has painted for His people that they may 
be fully warned of what this terrible being is going to do 
at the end of the age! 



Chapter Seven 



THE PRAYER OF DANIEL AS RECORDED IN 
CHAPTER NINE 

A FORECAST OF THE END OF TRANSGRES- 
SION, RECONCILIATION FOR INIQUITY, 
BEGINNING OF EVERLASTING RIGHT- 
EOUSNESS, FULFILLMENT OF ALL 
PROPHECY. 

The Anointing of the Most Holy One. 
Cyrus. 

In v. 1, Daniel says, "In the first year of Darius the 
son of Ahasuerus, of the seed of the Medes, which was 
made king over the realm of the Chaldeans." 

We know from history that the son of Astyages II 
was Cyrus, whose mother was Queen Esther, the Jewess. 
Cyrus was called Darius, an appelative title of the Per- 
sians, meaning the Maintainer. Who made Cyrus king? 
It we will read the first part of chapter 45 of Isaiah be- 
ginning with v. 28, of chapter 44, we will find that the 
Lord there named him Cyrus more than one hundred 
years before his birth for the very purpose of restoring 
the Israelites to Jerusalem again at the end of their Baby- 
lonian captivity. Then we will understand who made 
Cyrus king. Continuing v. 2, "In the first year of his 
reign, I Daniel understood by the books (you see Daniel 



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had been reading God's word) the number of years, 
whereof the word of the Lord came to Jeremiah the 
prophet, for the accomplishing of the desolation of Jeru- 
salem, even seventy years." (Jer. 25:11; 29:10). 

Daniel's Prayer 

"And I set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by 
prayer and supplication with fasting and sackcloth and 
ashes." (v. 3). How different this is from the usual 
method of seeking the Lord by prayer today. Who has 
heard of anyone even putting on his poorest clothes and 
sitting in the dust, to say nothing about sackcloth and 
ashes, as a token of humility, and then setting his face, 
and pouring out his soul to the Lord God? Rather we 
put on our best clothes and -often feast, and then nurse 
our unbelief in wondering why the Lord does not answer 
our half-hearted prayers. "To seek by prayer and sup- 
plication," he says. To seek what, may we ask? It 
could not have been for the fulfillment of the promise of 
the restoration of Israel to their land. Daniel's prayer 
could make no difference with God in regard to that. 

For it is written, "The word of our God shall stand 
forever." (Isa. 40:8). 

The Lord, speaking on this very matter to the prophets 
in regard to His people sinning against Him, said, 
"Though these three men, Noah, Daniel and Job, were 
in it, they should deliver but their own souls by their right- 
eousness, saith the Lord God." (Ezek. 14:14). Then 
what was Daniel praying for, it may be asked? We 
answer, because of the sins of his people ; there must be 
repentance and confession before the Lord could forgive 
and restore the people to their land. Some one must 



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make confession for their sins. In prayer and supplica- 
tion, Daniel in sackcloth and ashes, took upon himself 
and bore before God the great sins of his people, Israel, 
the righteous for the unrighteous. No wonder he was 
the "Greatly beloved." (Dan. 10:19). How beautifully 
typical of our Lord's taking upon Himself our sins. 
Daniel also pleads for the restoration of the Lord's holy 
mountain at Jerusalem and the presence of The Holy 
Spirit in the Shechinah (v. 17), which includes the pres- 
ence of the cherubim, or some representation of them 
(Ps. 80:1) for His own glory and Name's sake (vs. 19, 
20). And Daniel's prayer was answered. Then Daniel 
tells us in v. 21 of the coming of Gabriel to make him 
skillful to understand those wonderful prophetic state- 
ments which follow. Probably there is not a verse in 
the whole word of God, following the account of the 
creation of the world, which sets forth so many events 
pregnant with such mighty import and momentous results 
to this old world and its inhabitants as those seven times 
seven words in this twenty-fourth verse of this ninth 
chapter of Daniel. Let us read it. 

"Seventy weeks are decreed upon thy people and upon 
thy holy city, to finish the transgression, and to make an 
end of sin, and make reconciliation for iniquity, and to 
bring in everlasting righteousness, and to seal up the 
vision and prophecy, and to anoint the most holy." Praise 
the Lord ! 

The Benefits Arising from Daniel's Prayer 

Here is what one of Daniel's prayers has brought to us, 
a forecast of these seven great and startling events, which 
shall end up forever, the suffering, sorrow and bloodshed 



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of this old world ; and which shall be followed by a new 
order of things, in which there will be peace and joy and 
gladness and song forever. Praise the Lord! Praise ye 
the Lord ! ! Bless His Holy Name ! ! ! In v. 25, Gabriel 
tells Daniel, the time that shall elapse from the going 
forth of the commandment to restore Jerusalem, to the 
time of the coming of the Anointed One, which is, 69 
weeks of years. In v. 26, he tells of the cutting off of the 
Anointed One, that is, the crucifixion of Christ, then he 
tells of the people of the prince that shall come who shall 
destroy the city of Jerusalem and the sanctuary, which 
people was the Roman army. The end thereof shall be 
with a flood (great destruction) because of their unbelief 
and rebellion against God, in rejecting His Son, Jesus 
the Christ. History tells us, about forty years after His 
crucifixion the whole of Jerusalem was destroyed, the 
country laid waste, and the inhabitants were either killed 
or carried away into captivity. Christ prophesied of this 
same event (Lu. 21:24). This is all in the past to us 
now, then it was in the future to Daniel. Gabriel con- 
tinues saying, "Even unto the end, shall be wars; Deso- 
lations are determined." (v. 26). The world has just 
passed through one of those desolations in the late war. 
These wars and desolations have been with us, and will 
continue to come up to the end of the age. Peace is most 
desirable, but so long as the people of the world continue 
to disobey God, and selfishness and wickedness abound, 
there will be no lasting peace. Men may talk peace and 
make peace covenants, but because of the sin that abounds, 
God has said, "Even unto the end shall be war." When 
all that is said in v. ; 24, is consummated, then, and only 
then, will war cease and permanent peace be established. 
May the Lord hasten the day of that peace. The con- 



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summation of peace will be by the utter routing of all the 
forces of Satan, who has been working in and against 
man on the earth, deceiving him for many^ ages, and the 
complete liberation of mankind from his power, thus 
enabling him to live and enjoy the blessings of the earth 
under the rule of Christ, through all the years of His 
reign on the earth. 

The Last Week of the Seventy, not yet Fulfilled 

Bible students generally, have been able to match 
God's prophetic word with history down to the destruc- 
tion of Jerusalem, which occurred about forty years after 
the crucifixion of Christ, and which corresponds in his- 
tory with the 69th week of the seventy weeks of years of 
the prophecy given to Daniel by the angel Gabriel. But 
nothing has yet been found in all history that will cor- 
respond with what God's prophetic word says in v. 24, 
and what is to take place in the last week of the seventy 
weeks. Consequently, it is generally conceded that the 
last week of the seventy, has not been fulfilled. After 
the destruction of Jerusalem, (A. D. 70) the Jews were 
scattered over the face of the earth, deprived of their land, 
without national existence, without a city, and without 
an altar or sanctuary, subject to the hatred and persecu- 
tions of all mankind, and they are yet a distinct and 
separate people. Nineteen hundred years have thus 
passed away, and still they are in the same condition, and 
no account of the fulfillment of that last week of years 
has been found in history. 

Has God forgotten His people and His covenant with 
them? Not at all. 

His word cannot fail. Hear what He says. "In that 



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clay, saith the Lord, will I assemble her that halteth, and 
I will gather her that is driven away, and her that I 
have afflicted ; and I will make her that halted a remnant, 
and her that was cast off a strong nation : and the Lord 
shall reign over them in mount Zion from henceforth even 
forever." (Micah 4:6, 7). Read on through the chapter. 
And also, " Remember the former things of old ; for I am 
God, and there is none else. I am God and there is none 
like me: declaring the end from the beginning, and from 
ancient times, things that are not yet done; saying, my 
counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure." (Isa. 
46:9, 10). 

"Israel Not My People" 

Because of Israel's rebellion against Him, the Lord 
said to Hosea, (1 :9) "Call his name Lo-Ammi, for ye are 
not my people and I will not be your God." 

This we also find in history, that when they were in 
rebellion against Him, he would not be their God, nor 
acknowledge them to be His people, but sold them into 
the hands of their enemies. For examples of this in the 
past, see Judg. 3:7-9, 12-15; 4:1-4; 6:1-8, and on. 
That is the condition of Israel today, "Lo-Ammi," 
nationally, not my people. These examples plainly show 
that God will not be their God as a nation, when they are 
in rebellion against Him, but they must serve the time of 
their affliction, which He has appointed them. This was 
the very cause of Daniel's being a captive in Shushan 
when he saw this vision. See also, Lev. 26:18, 21, 24, 28. 

For this reason since about forty years after the cruci- 
fixion of Christ, they have been, "Lo-Ammi," as God has 
said, not my people. Hence the passing of so many years 
of time in which God is not dealing with His people as 



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a nation, because time with them then is not counted. 
But during this long period of time God has "Visited 
the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name." 
(Acts, 15:14). Are you one of His people? 

The Book of Daniel Contains no Prophecy of Israel in 
this A ge 

The writer can find no prophecy in this book of Daniel 
concerning the national life of Israel, during the present 
dispensation, except dispersion. 

Or in other words, there is no prophecy in the book of 
Daniel referring to, or concerning the national life of 
Israel during the period of the treading down of Jerusalem 
by the Gentiles referred to by our Lord in His prophecy 
in Luke 21 :24. The phophecies describe events to come 
concerning Israel down to the time of the destruction of 
Jerusalem, and then, from that time, leap over the 
present dispensation of "The Times of the Gentiles," and 
again take up and deal with future events relating to 
Israel, at the end of the age. We have here another one, 
it seems to the writer, of the strongest proofs of the 
authenticity of the book of Daniel that can be made, be- 
cause it is a proof found in the word of God itself, which 
cannot be overthrown by all the theories of Eichhorn, 
Dr. Driver and all the other so-called higher critics, who 
have followed after them. 

The Break between Verses Twenty-Six and Twenty- 
Seven. 

The above condition of things accounts for the sudden 
break and change of subject between vs. 26 and 27. There 
is at least a lapse of nearly two thousand years of time 



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between these two verses. What was said in v. 26, is 
past to us now. What was said in v. 27, is still future to 
us. In reading these verses, if this is not taken into con- 
sideration, so far as the writer can see, they cannot be 
correctly understood. As has been said by Augustine, 
"Distinguish dispensations and the scriptures harmonize 
themselves," seem to be true in this case at least. The 
same break or gap occurs in the vision of Daniel described 
in the next three chapters. It is found in ch. 11, be- 
tween vs. 20 and 21, and in other places in God's word. 
For example, in Isa. 61 :2, it comes between, "Year of 
our Lord," and "Day of vengeance," etc. 

.Some have dubbed this the "Gap theory," but it is no 
theory, it is a gap fact and can be shown to be true. 

The Last Offer 

It may be well to notice that the last offer made to the 
Jews, to accept the gospel of Christ, as a nation, was 
made by Paul, (Acts, 28:25-28) and was about two years 
before the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans 
(A. D. 70), which is also the last prophetic event men- 
tioned by the angel Gabriel in the last part of v. 26, of 
the ninth chapter of Daniel, concerning the Jewish nation. 
Then there is that abrupt stop and change of subject, be- 
fore mentioned, and the next event referred to, in the 
next verse (27) by the angel, concerning Israel, will not 
be fulfilled until after the fulfillment of the prophecy 
made by Christ, as stated in Luke. The prophecy is, 
"And they shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall 
be led captive into all nations: and Jerusalem shall 
be trodden down of the Gentiles, until the times of the 
Gentiles be fulfilled." (Lu. 21:24). As before stated, 



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Israel is now "Lo-Ammi," not my people, and will con- 
tinue to be so, until their punishment is complete at the 
end of the times of the Gentiles, when God will again 
begin to deal with them as a nation. Then the great 
prophecies of v. 24, will begin to be fulfilled. There 
necessarily has been some repetition in order to try and 
make this matter clear. Now we will consider v. 27. 

The Little Horn Claiming to be the Messiah 

Gabriel says, "And he shall make a firm covenant with 
many for one week (a week of years) : and for half of 
the week he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to 
cease; and upon the pinnacle (margin) (or height) of 
abominations shall come one that maketh desolate ; and 
even unto the consummation, and that determined, shall 
wrath be poured out upon the desolator." "He," who is 
this "he," may we ask? What covenant did he make? 
After the prophetic statement made to Daniel by the angel 
in heaven, of ch. 7, and also those made by Gabriel in ch. 
8, we may be sure Daniel knew full well who "he" re- 
ferred to. 

Daniel had not so soon forgotten the troubled mind 
he had had, over what had been said to him in ch. 7, also 
the fainting spell (Dan. 8:27) and sickness he had after 
what Gabriel told him, of the same terrible person again 
in ch. 8. The former account was but a little over three 
years past to him, and the account of ch. 8, was not more 
than a year back. Daniel knew that Gabriel referred to 
that same "Little Horn," before described, who would 
deceive his people proclaiming himself to be the Messiah, 
and they would believe him, (John, 5:43) and bind them- 
selves to him in a firm covenant which he, himself wonld 



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break in the middle of the week of years, and proceed to 
do his own will. "So that he sitting in the temple of 
God, setting himself forth as God," (2 Thes. 2:4) and 
setting up his own idol of himself for the worship of him- 
self, and also destroying all those whom he could get 
hold of, who refused to worship him, or refused to re- 
ceive his mark in their hand or forehead, (Rev. 13:16). 
Thus he will do until the wrath of the Lord shall be 
poured out upon this desolator, at His coming. (Dan. 
7:11, Rev. 19:11-21). 



Chapter Eight 



THE LAST VISION OF DANIEL AS RECORDED 
IN CHAPTERS TEN, ELEVEN AND TWELVE 

Daniel's Prayer, and the Angels Account of the Wars of 
the Little Horn 

Here begins the last recorded vision of Daniel, which 
was given to him about two years after that of chapter 
nine. Daniel says in v. 1, "And the thing was true, even 
a great warfare: and he understood the thing, and had 
understanding of the vision." Daniel was then called 
Belshazzar. He says, "In those days I Daniel was 
mourning three whole weeks." (v. 2). Then in v. 3, he 
tells us in what his mourning consisted. In v. 4, he tells 
us where he saw the vision. This river is first mentioned 
in Gen. 2:14, and corresponds to the Tigris, in the 
Mesopotamian valley. 

Daniel's Prayer and What He Saw 

In the next verse follows a description of one of those 
wonderful angelic beings so often described in God's 
word. The very presence of these beings seem to turn 
the flesh of man into weakness, as unto death. What a 
description he gives of this being, a man clothed in linen 
clean and white. How much this description is like the 
being that John saw, and described in Rev. 1 : 13-1 6, ex- 
cept that the latter, (v. 16) had the seven stars in his 

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right hand and out of His mouth proceeded a sharp two- 
edged sword. From this we know that He was none 
other than the Son of God. Later we learn that the 
being here described was the angel man, to whom we 
need an introduction, for he had not talked to Daniel. 
The text gives this. Daniel says, I alone saw the vision: 
for a great quaking fell upon them that were with me, 
and they fled to hide themselves, etc. (v. 7). In vs. 8-11, 
we have the account of the utter breaking down of Daniel, 
which is so often the case when one of God's messengers 
come in close contact with fleshly man. 

We wonder why Daniel prayed so long, three full 
weeks, and no doubt he would have continued longer, 
had not the angel came as he did. Verse 12 gives in- 
formation on this point. From what the angel says, we 
conclude that Daniel was very anxious to know more 
about what was coming upon his people, than what he had 
learned from Gabriel's last visit as recorded in the last 
verses of chapter 9. That knowledge had undoubtedly 
distressed him much, so that he had set himself toward 
God with fasting and prayer, to find out, if possible, more 
concerning them. This is another great example of the 
power of prayer of- a righteous man with God. 

Prayer Heard but Answer Delayed 

Continuing the angel says, "Fear not Daniel, for from 
the first day that thou didst set thine heart to understand, 
and to humble thyself before thy God, thy words were 
heard; and I am come for thy word's sake." (v. 12). In 
v. 13, the angel tells Daniel the cause of his delay. It would 
seem that matters had reached such a point between God 
and Daniel that Satan trembled, or at least dreaded the 



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results of the prayers and supplications of that Daniel. 
At any rate he sent some one of his mightiest angels, the 
prince that watched over the kingdom of Persia, to inter- 
cept the angel. And this Satanic angel was able to with- 
stand the angel three whole weeks, until Michael came, 
when the angel was at liberty to come to Daniel, (mar- 
gin). Now that Satanic angel must have been a mighty 
one, to have been able to intercept the angel for three 
whole weeks, so that Michael had to be sent for, in order 
that he could get away. What could have been his pur- 
pose in trying to intercept the angel? Probably Satan 
did not like to have him impart so much knowledge con- 
cerning these things that were to come, that so clearly 
involved his own conduct toward mankind, besides it is 
the purpose of Satan to obstruct God's plans in every 
way possible. For we know from the things told in this 
vision, and in other places in God's word, what Satan is 
doing and is going to do, to deceive mankind, in his fight 
against God and man, in order to exalt himself to the 
throne of God. (Isa. 14:13, 14). The words of the 
prophets are full of these things. It is also true that 
Satan was going to have a great deal to do with what 
was to befall Daniel's people, in his effort to destroy them. 
One of the greatest things he was trying to do was to 
thwart the purpose of the God-head in bringing about the 
salvation of the human race through the "Seed of the 
woman," Jesus Christ, who would crush his head. His 
very safety, depended upon that effort. The word of God 
is full of it from Genesis to Malachi. What a power 
the prayers of God's people must have, even upon Satan, 
according to all this. We can see also how the answer to 
the prayers of God's people may be delayed . How little 
we know what is going on up there after all. How much 



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less we will know, if we will not believe what little or 
much we are told in God's word. Oh that God's people 
would put forth more earnestness in prayer, and be more 
careful for what we pray, and pray more for God's 
things, and not so much for our own short-sighted selfish 
things. We are not told here the words of Daniel's 
prayer, but let us return to the text. 

What the Angel Came For 

In v. 14, the angel tells Daniel what he came for. He 
says, "To make thee understand what shall befall thy 
people in the latter days." This plainly tells us that the 
vision was about many things coming to Daniel's people 
all along down the centuries to the crucifixion of Christ, 
and at the end of the age. Again Daniel collapses, because 
of what the angel said concerning his people. After this 
follows the manifestations of the power of the angel in 
restoring Daniel's strength, and then, their colloquy. In 
v. 20, the angel tells him that he will return to fight with 
the prince of Persia, etc., and in the next verse he says. 
"I will tell thee that which is inscribed in the writings of 
truth." (v. 21). We note that these words are written 
words of truth. History compared with these prophecies 
tell us that God's word is true. The prophet says God's 
word is true. The psalmist says God's word is true, but 
still men will not believe it. 

The Vision of Daniel Continued in Chapter Eleven. 
The Prophetic History of Daniel's People Continued. 

In v. 1 the angel says, "And as for me, in the first year 
of Darius the Mede whom we know was Cyrus, (Dan. 
9:1) I stood to confirm and strengthen him." 



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What does this mean? In Isa. chs. 44, and 45, we have 
found out who made him king, now here we find one of 
the Lord's watchers supporting him against all the forces 
of the prince of the powers of evil, so that he (Cyrus) 
might carry out the plans for which God had put him 
there, namely; the restoration of Israel to their land. 
Probably, Cyrus knew nothing about God's hand in the 
matter. In v. 2, the angel says, "Now I will show thee 
the truth." Then he takes up the prophetic narrative, be- 
ginning right there in the life time of Daniel, and the 
then present history of the Persian Empire, and says, 
"Behold, there shall stand up yet three kings of Persia." 
These, history has finally settled upon, Cyrus then being 
on the throne, and following him were Cambyses, Darius 
Hystaspes and the fourth, Xerxes, who, "When he waxed 
strong through his riches, he shall stir up all against the 
realm of Greece. And a mighty king shall stand up, that 
shall rule with great dominion, and do according to hi> 
will." (v. 3). History tells us that this mighty king was 
Alexander the Great. Verse 4, tells us what became of 
his kingdom. Notice, in ch. 8, Daniel had a vision of 
this same prophetic statement, (vs. 6, 7, 8) and Gabriel 
explained the vision to him, beginning at the same place 
in point of time and history. Then Gabriel beginning 
with v. 22, of ch. 8, describes the career of the little horn, 
which so much concerned Daniel. 

Here, in ch. 11, the angel gives us another line of 
future history, that is, what will directly befall Daniel's 
people, in the latter days. So that in chapter 8, we have 
the prophetic story of the little horn, and here, what be- 
falls Daniel's people before and in connection with the 
little horn. 

These two accounts are descriptive of what took place 



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concerning Israel along down the centuries to the destruc- 
tion of Jerusalem, which is now in the past to us; and 
also what will take place at the end of the age, when the 
prophetic account of the seventy weeks will be fulfilled, 
which will complete the 490 years, the seventy weeks of 
years of Dan. 9:24. We note also that vs. 21 and 22 of 
chapter 8, describes the same events that vs. 3 and 4, of 
chapter 1 1 do, as to the time in history, but there is added 
to this in v. 4, of ch. 11, "For his kingdom (Alexander's) 
shall be plucked up, even for others besides these." What 
does this mean? "For others besides these." 

It would seem to mean, that his kingdom would also 
be ruled by other kings besides the dynasties of those who 
possessed it after the division. We find that in history this 
is the case. History shows that after the dynasties of the 
kings prophetically described in this chapter, Alexander's 
kingdom has been ruled over by the Romans, followed by 
the Saracens and Turks, and at the present time part of 
it is now ruled by England, who recently captured it from 
the Turks. 

The King of the South and the North 

Abruptly, (v. 5) the angel starts in to narrate future 
events as though he was continuing a former story, by 
saying, "And the king of the south shall be strong," etc. 
What does this signify? Who was the king of the south 
and who was the king of the north? History says, when 
Alexander died four of his principal generals siezed upon 
different portions of his kingdom. 

Seleucus finally secured much of Asia and Ptolomy se- 
cured Egypt. These generals started a dynasty of kings 
who ruled over these kingdoms nearly two hundred and 



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fifty years. The angel does not designate by name the 
different kings of these two dynasties, but refers to them 
as king of the south and king of the north. Ptolomy ruled 
Egypt south of Palestine and Seleucus secured Syria north 
of Palestine. These two dynasties of kings, during almost 
their whole existence were continually warring with each 
other, until their kingdoms were devastated and destroyed. 
They were finally conquered and taken over by the then 
growing and victorious Roman Empire in the last cen- 
tury, B. C. 

The Effects of Their Wars on Palestine 

Palestine, as Seiss says, "Being between these two coun- 
tries, was ground to powder by them as between the upper 
and nether millstone," until finally, the war of the Macca- 
bees came on and the Jews being usually victorious, they 
finally made a league with the Romans, and about 70, 
B. C. Palestine became a part of the Roman Empire. 
During all but the latter part of this time, Palestine was 
sometimes held by one dynasty of kings, and sometimes by 
the other. How wonderfully true the angel describes the 
wars between these two dynasties of kings, more than a 
hundred years before they began to take place. This 
description ends with v. 20. A great deal of confusion has 
arisen, it seems to the writer, in interpreting some parts 
of this chapter, nor is it surprising, since the traditional 
interpreters seem to have forgotten, or never to have dis- 
covered that The Holy Spirit sent the angel, "For thy 
word's sake" (Dan. 10:12). Daniel had set his heart to 
understand, and humbled himself before God. He heard 
his prayers, and sent the angel to make him understand 
what trials should befall his people. 

This was the object of the angel's visit, rather than to 



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recount certain successess or reverses, as the case might be 
of the individual kings of these two dynasties, of that 
period. 

The History of These Kings 

According to Josephus, the first king of the south was 
Ptolomy Soter who soon after the death of Alexander 
seized upon Egypt. By deceit and by taking advantage 
of the Sabbath day laws of the Jews, he took possession of 
Jerusalem. He carried away many captives from Judea 
and Samaria and settled them in Alexandria Egypt. The 
expression, "And one of his princes; and he shall be strong 
above him (Ptolomy) and shall have dominion; his domin- 
ion shall be a great dominion," (v. 5) refers to Seleucus 
Nicator, above referred to, who had seized Babylonia as 
his portion of Alexander's kingdom, but was at first un- 
able to hold it, being deposed by Antigonus, the fifth of 
Alexander's generals, fled to Egypt, and for a time became 
a satrap of Ptolomy. 

Later, four of the generals of Alexander, Lysimachus, 
Cassander, Ptolomy and Seleucus, because Antigonus 
would not divide with them a large sum of money which 
he had taken of Alexander's, combined against him and 
after several battles, defeated and killed him at the battle 
of Ipsus. In the division then made by the four generals, 
Seleucus received the greater part of Asia, including 
Syria and Palestine. Thus he received a great dominion, 
and made him "Strong above him," (Ptolomy) until a 
portion of it was taken from him in the wars that fol- 
lowed. In v. 6, the king of the south was Ptolomy Phila- 
delphus, who made an agreement of peace with Antiochus 
II, then king of the north, and gave him his daughter 
Bernice in marriage in place of his wife Laodice, whom 



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he had divorced, but the union failed to cement the tieS 
of peace. At the death of Ptolomy, soon after, Bernice 
was divorced and there followed revenge, murder and 
war. Ptolomy Philadelphus was a patron of the arts of 
peace, books and learning. It was he, who in order to 
still further increase his library of rare and valuable 
books, of over two hundred thousand volumes, selected 
not less than seventy of the most learned Jews of all 
Palestine and Egypt, to translate the Hebrew Bible into 
Greek. The "Septuagint" translation was the result. 
Query, With the knowledge thus obtained of the word 
of God, why were not the Jews informed and instructed 
in the prophetic words of Daniel, in regard to the com- 
ing on-slaught of the Grecian oppression and idolatry, 
which so soon rolled in upon them? 

Ptolomy also freed all the Jews held as slaves in Egypt. 
Verses 7 and 8, are descriptive of PtolomvIII, surnamed 
Euergetes, king of the south, who with a great army, 
made war on Antiochus II, king of the north, to revenge 
the death of his sister Bernice who after the death of her 
father, was murdered by the divorced wife, Laodice, of 
Antiochus II. Ptolomy conquered and took many prov- 
inces of the northern kingdom, besides taking great 
treasure and also a statue of an Egyptian god which was 
highly prized. After this victory, there was several years 
of peace. This is referred to in v. 8. 

During this peace which followed, Ptolomy's kingdom 
reached the highest point of its power. Verse 9, refers to 
the acts of Seleucus Callenicus, son of Antiochus II, and 
v. 10, to the acts of his two sons, Seleucus Ceraunus and 
Antiochus III. Seleucus Ceraunus was assassinated, and 
left the throne to Antiochus III, afterwards called, the 



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Great, who continued the war with Ptolomy Pilopator, 
then king of the south, and defeated him in some of the 
first battles. Ptolomy then aroused himself, took the 
field in person and defeated Antiochus the Great in a 
battle at Raphia, which is prophetically described in vs. 
11 and 12. The expression, "But he shall not prevail" 
refers to the life of excess he afterwards lived, which 
shortened his career and deprived him of the fruits of his 
victory. 



Chapter Nine 



THE LAST VISION OF DANIEL CONTINUED 

The Career of the Antiochus, and the War of the 
Maccabees. 

This chapter begins with verse 13, of chapter 11. 
Josephus describes the sufferings of his people thus. "Now 
it happened that in the reign of Antiochus the Great, who 
ruled over all Asia, that the Jews, as well as the inhabi- 
tants of Celesyria suffered greatly, and their land was 
sorely harrassed, for while he was at war with Ptolomy 
Philopater and with his son, who was called Epiphanes, it 
fell out that these nations were equally sufferers both when 
Antiochus was beaten, and when he beat the other". . . 
"But at length when Antiochus had beaten Ptolomy, he 
seized upon Judea". . . ."And when Philopator was dead, 
his son sent out a great army under Scopas, the general 
of his forces, against the inhabitants of Celesyria and took 
many of their cities and particularly our nation, which 
when he fell on them went over to him. 

Yet it was not long afterward when Antiochus over- 
came Scopas, the Jews of their own accord went over to 
him." Josephus then relates how the Jews received 
Antiochus into the city and gave provisions to his army, 
and helped eject the Egyptian garrison from the city, and 
as a recompense Antiochus remitted their taxes for a time, 
and assisted in repairing the temple, returning those that 

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had been made captives, and did man)- other things for 
them. 

Josephus also says, "After this Antiochus made friend- 
ship and a league with Ptolomy, and gave him his daughter 
Cleopatra to wife," who is referred to in v. 17, "As the 
daughter of women, and yielded up to him Celesyria, 
Judea, Samaria and Phoenicia, by way of dower." Another 
historian says this was done for fear of the Romans. 

The Congruity of the Text and History. 

The above account corresponds with the prophetic 
description of the angel as found in verses 13, 17 and 18, 
but taken consecutively, the verses of the text from 13 
to 20, inclusive, compared with history, are hopelessly 
mixed. 

"If the word spoken through angels prove steadfast," 
(Heb. 2:2), one of three things must have taken place. 
Either the angel only intended to describe prophetically, 
the acts of the two dynasties of kings without strict regard 
to the order of events, or the translators have disarranged 
the verses of the text in translating them. Otherwise his- 
torians have failed to correctly record the order of events. 
It is true that most of the verses can be ascribed to the 
acts of the individual kings consecutively and according 
to history, but this is not the case with verses 13-20. 
Verse 19, prophetically describes the death of both Antio- 
chus the Great, according to history, and also the death 
of his younger son Antiochus Epiphanes, according to 
Josephus, who wrote the history of the Maccabees. To 
which of the two kings shall we ascribe this verse 19? By 
changing the order of the text, and ascribing verses 13, 
17 and 18, to the acts of Antiochus the Great, and v. 14 to 



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105 



Ptolomy and to, "The children of the violent of thy peo- 
ple," and verses 15, 16 and 19, to the acts of Antiochus 
Epiphanes, and v. 20, to "One that shall cause an exactor 
to pass through the glory of the kingdom (Palestine), the 
text and history fully agree." 

The Accuracy of the Prophetic Word as above Arranged 

Now let us first note the statement in v. 18, which 
reads, "After this shall he turn his face unto the isles, 
(coast lands) and shall take many; but a prince shall cause 
the reproach offered by him to cease ; yea, moreover, he 
shall cause his reproach to turn upon him." The above, 
is the account of Antiochus the Great after he had made 
a league with Ptolomy, and had given his daughter, 
Cleopatra, who remained true to her husband and was 
not corrupted by the interests of her father, the same as 
is stated in the text. 

Antiochus took several of the provinces in Asia minor, 
and then came in contact with the Roman consul', Acilius 
Glabrio at Thermopylae and later, with Lucius Scipio at 
Magnesia. He, having been defeated in both engage- 
ments, returned to his own knigdom. Afterward, rinding 
it very difficult to raise money to pay the tribute that the 
Romans had imposed upon him, he undertook to plunder 
a rich temple in a city of Persia, where he was defeated 
and killed. Thus was the reproach he had offered to 
Rome by these attacks caused to cease and to turn upon 
him. (Dan. 11:18). 

The Career of Antiochus Epiphanes 

Now let us consider the career of Antiochus Epiphanes, 
as prophetically described in verses 15, 16 and 19, chap- 
ter 11. "So the king of the north shall come, and cast 



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up a mount, and take a well fenced city: and the arms 
of the south shall not withstand, neither his chosen people, 
neither shall there be any strength to withstand: but he 
that cometh against him shall do according to his will, 
and none shall stand before him : and he shall stand in 
the glorious land (Palestine), and in his hand shall be 
destruction." (Dan. 15, 16). Josephus says, "Now 
Antiochus (Epiphanes) upon the agreeable situation of 
his kingdom, resolved to make an expedition into Egypt," 
etc. "So he came with a great force to Pelusium, and 
circumvented Ptolomy Philometer by treachery, and 
seized upon Egypt". . . ."He then came to places about 
Memphis; and when he had taken them, he made haste 
to Alexandria, in hopes of taking it by siege, and of sub- 
duing the Ptolomy (Euergetes, brother of the king) who 
reigned there." It will be noticed that all this is in ac- 
cord with the prophecy of v. 15, and the first half of 16. 
We are not able for lack of historical information, to state 
what city is referred to in the expression, "And cast up a 
mount, and take a well fenced city," whether it refers 
to Pelusium, or some other city. Josephus continues say- 
ing, "But he was driven not only from Alexandria, but 
out of all Egypt, by the declaration of the Romans, (but 
not with arms) who charged him to let that country 
alone." 

Antiochus no doubt, remembered how his father had 
been twice sorely defeated by the Romans. Then Josephus 
says, "The king returning out of Egypt for fear of the 
Romans, made an expedition against the city of Jerusa- 
lem." (about 170, B. C. ). This is in accord with the 
latter part of v. 16, where it says, "And he shall stand 
in the glorious land." Josephus continuing says, "He took 



Comments on Daniel 107 



the city without fighting, those of his own party opening 
the gates to him". . . ."And when he had gotten posses- 
sion of Jerusalem, he slew many of the opposing party; 
and when he had plundered it of a great deal of money, 
he returned to Antioch". . . ."Now it came to pass 
after two years, that the king came up to Jerusalem again, 
and pretending peace, got possession of the city by 
treachery; at which time he spared not so much as those 
that admitted him to it." It will be too long to give 
Josephus' own words further, but Antiochus robbed the 
temple of all its golden furnishings and left it bare. He 
slew many of its inhabitants and took away many cap- 
tives. He pillaged the whole city and burned some of its 
buildings. He built an idol altar upon God's altar, and 
sacrificed swine upon it. He forced the Jews to build 
altars in various places and sacrifice swine upon them. 
When he went away, he left officers in charge, to continue 
the same persecutions. 

Those who refused to submit to their orders, were per- 
secuted in various ways, or killed. This also accords 
with, "And in his hand shall be destruction." (v. 16). 

The Origin of the W ar of the Maccabees 

When the officers of - the King Antiochus went to 
Modin, a little village about twenty miles from Jerusalem, 
in order to compel the Jews living there to sacrifice swine, 
one Mattathias, who was of the priestly order, with his 
five sons, refused to obey the king's command, and said, 
"Though all the nations choose to obey the king, yet he 
and his sons would not leave the religious worship of his 
country to please the king." When another Jew came 
forward to sacrifice swine upon the altar, Mattathias and 



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his sons, who stood with their arms, ran with great 
violence upon the Jew, the officer and his soldiers and 
slew them. Mattathias also tore down the altar, and 
cried out, "If any are zealous for the laws of his country 
and for the worship of God, let him follow me." Thus 
began the war of the Maccabees. 

So says Josephus. Mattathias then gathered a few fol- 
lowers, and fled to the hills. He being an old man died 
about a year afterward. His oldest son, called Judus 
Maccabeus became leader. He gathered quite an army 
and with the help of his brothers continued the war 
against Antiochus until he was dead ; and afterward, 
against his sons, until the days of the high priest, Hyrca- 
nus, and until all the sons of Mattathias were either 
killed in war or by treachery, and the Jews came under 
the power of Rome by a league made with them. Thus 
the priests of the house of Asamoneus, of the order of 
Joreb destroyed the growing power of Grecian idolatry 
in Palestine, and preserved the worship of the Living God, 
until the first coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

Death of Antiochus Epiphanes 

When Antiochus, who had left Judea, heard of the in- 
surrection, he was very angry, but instead of going himself 
into Judea with an army, he sent his general, Appollonius 
to subdue the country, while he went into the eastern part 
of his kingdom to collect taxes. Judus Maccabeus met 
Apollonius with an army of Jews, defeated his army and 
killed him. Thus general after general was sent with 
force to subdue Judea. But in almost every battle the 
Jews were victorious. During all this time Antiochus 
was going over the other countries of his kingdom, col- 



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109 



lecting taxes and putting down other insurrections. Hear- 
ing of a rich city in Persia called Elymais, in which there 
was said to be a very rich temple filled with great riches, 
and many arms left there by Alexander the Great, he 
went there with the purpose of plundering it, but the in- 
habitants of that city came out against him with such 
fury and force, that he had to flee for his life. It is said 
this, with the news of the repeated defeat of his armies in 
Judea, and his anxiety over the matter, threw him into a 
fever of distemper, from which he died. The Jews be- 
lieved the manner of his death, was a judgment from God, 
because of his having robbed their temple. By others, on 
account of his rapacious conduct, he was called "The 
mad man." Very nearly the same story is told by some 
historians, of his father, Antiochus the Great, who it is 
said, endeavored to plunder the same temple, but was 
killed in the attempt. This may account for some of the 
confusion that exists between the history of the father 
and son. The historical accounts of these times are so 
meager, the details of events, so wanting, coupled with 
the uncertainty of dates, make it almost impossible to cor- 
rectly cover every point of prophecy with history. The 
above historical accounts given by Josephus conform to 
the prophetic statements in verses 15, 16, where he 
describes the expedition of Antiochus Epiphanes into 
Egypt, and his taking that country. The angel speaks of 
his, "Standing in the glorious Land," in the last part of 
v. 16, which land, Josephus says he visited twice in the 
space of two years. The expression, "Glorious Land," is 
used twice in this chapter, here and in verse 41, and refers 
in both places to Palestine. The expression, "And in his 
hand shall be destruction," certainly was fulfilled in the 



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description given by Josephus. He gives an account of 
the king's plundering the temple and the city, at his 
second visit, and the taking away of the daily sacrifice, 
and of his building the idol altar upon God's altar, and 
sacrificing swine upon it, the burning of many buildings, 
and the cruelties he practiced upon the inhabitants, be- 
cause they would not obey the king, and give up the wor- 
ship of the true God, and worship the idols of Greece, 
and he also describes the war of the Maccabees, which 
followed and still further devastated the land. Verse 19, 
is fulfilled in the description of the attempt of Antiochus 
Epiphanes to plunder the temple of Elymais, and his 
failure and death following it. The fulfillment of verse 
20, is described in the career of Seleucus Philopator, who 
commissioned Heliodorus the exactor to pass through the 
Glorious kingdom, and who came to his end neither in 
battle nor in anger, but was supposed to have been 
poisoned by Heliodorus. 

The Claim of the Traditional Interpreters. 

The acts of Antiochus Epiphanes have been greatly 
magnified in wickedness by the traditional interpreters, 
and he is made to appear as. a type of the antichrist, or 
the little horn of chapter 8. All who are so wicked may 
in a certain sense, be called a type of Satan, the greatest 
of all wicked ones, but the writer questions the scriptural 
propriety of calling any man, no matter how wicked he 
may have been, a type of the antichrist. John, 2:18, 
says, "Even now have there arisen many antichrists." 
Does the word of God teach that there are any types, save 
the types of the Glorified Christ? 

Besides a true type of the antichrist, if the term can be 



Comments on Daniel 111 



scripturally used, would be one who forced the people to 
worship himself or an image of himself, (Rev. 13 :7, 8, 15) 
instead of forcing them to worship other idols, as Antio- 
chus did. There is no doubt he was a very wicked king. 
He tried to "Hellenize" the Jews by forcing them to ac- 
cept the Greek religion. He even strangled some of the 
Jewish mothers and hung their sons about their necks, 
because they would not desist from having them circum- 
cised. He took away many captives, so did Ptolomy, 
king of the south, when he conquered Jerusalem many 
years before. According to Josephus, Antiochus did not 
destroy the temple nor the altar. He did not offer swine 
on God's altar, but upon an altar which he built upon the 
altar of God. The traditional interpreters also claim 
that verses 21 to 36 inclusive, prophetically describe the 
acts of Antiochus Epiphanes, but so far as the writer can 
see, this is impossible, both according to the word of God 
and according to history. In v. 21, the angel says, "And 
in his place (office) shall stand up a contemptible person, 
to whom they shall not give the honor of the king- 
dom: but he shall come in time of security, and shall 
obtain the kingdom by flatteries." History tells us 
Antiochus Epiphanes was the younger of two sons of 
Antiochus the Great. 

The older was Seleucus Philopator, who received the 
kingdom at the death of his father. Seleucus lived only 
seven years, and died by poison by the hand of Heliodorus, 
so supposed. Then Antiochus received the kingdom, as 
rightful heir to the throne by the family title; he did not 
get it by flatteries. The kingdom came to him honorably. 
He was the legal heir. This is contrary to the prophetic 
statement. The angel, referring to this same person 



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again, in v. 22, says, "And with the arms of a flood shall 
they be swept away from before him." The writer can 
rind no such corresponding account given in the history 
of Antiochus. In v. 23, the angel spoke of this same 
person again, making a covenant with some prince, he 
also says, "For he shall become strong with a small 
people." Where in all history is there anything of these 
different things said of Antiochus Epiphanes? They are 
not to be found. Indeed, the very opposite of these is 
shown to be true in history. 

Antiochus received a great kingdom from his brother. 
There is no such history that he "became strong with a 
small people." We find no history of his making a cove- 
nant with a prince. Therefore, we must conclude that 
the angel in these verses was describing the acts of some 
other person, some person yet to come in the future. So 
we might go' on with other verses, which history will not 
confirm as having been fulfilled by Antiochus, or any 
other person who has yet lived. 



Chapter Ten 



THE LAST VISION OF DANIEL CONTINUED 
IN CHAPTER ELEVEN 

THE PROPHETIC STATEMENTS OF THE AN- 
GEL, AND TRADITIONAL INTERPRETERS. 
THE EFFECTS OF THESE PROPHECIES 
UPON THE JEWS 

The Little Horn and the Contemptible Person Identical 

We are still comparing the prophetic statements of the 
angel with those of the traditional interpreters. Let us 
consider verses 27 and 35 of chapter 11. Verse 27 reads, 
"And as for both these kings, their hearts shall be to do mis- 
chief, and they shall speak lies at one table: but it shall 
not prosper; for yet the end shall be at the time ap- 
pointed." Now to whatever kings this may refer, it also 
refers to the end, the end of the age. From the words 
and the construction we have good reason to believe that 
Antiochus could not have had anything to do with this 
prophetic history. How then can this refer to the acts 
of Antiochus, whose career was ended many years before 
the first coming of Christ, and is at least two thousand 
years in the past, and the end is still in the future? The 
last part of verse 35 refers to the same time, "The time 
of the end," which begins only seven years before the 
end, and the same declaration is made, "Because it is yet 
for the time appointed." All these verses, beginning 



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with 21 and on, refer to end time events. How then can 
Antiochus be considered an actor in them? If it is said 
these events have already transpired in his life time, where 
in all history does it say anything about Antiochus 
Epiphanes with any other king ''Speaking lies at one 
table"? It is clear to the writer that the prophetic de- 
scription of the angel has nothing whatever to do with 
Antiochus Epiphanes after verse 19. Beginning with 
verse 21, the angel is describing the acts of some other 
person, who is still in the future. But to repeat, verses 
13, 17 and 18 clearly describe prophetically the acts of 
Antiochus the Great, while verses 15, 16 and 19 as clearly 
describe the acts of his son, Antiochus Epiphanes, accord- 
ing to history. Consequently the writer is driven to the 
conclusion that if it was the intention of the angel that 
verses 13 to 19 inclusive should prophetically describe the 
acts of these kings particularly and consecutively, either 
the lines or verses of the text have been disarranged, or 
the historians have mixed their dates, otherwise the angel 
only described generally the acts of the two dynasties of 
the kings, as before stated. 



Jewish Worship Restored 

Just three years to a day, after the sacrifices had been 
stopped by Antiochus, they were restored again by Judas 
Maccabeus; so that the three and one-half years time 
prophecy (Dan. 9:27) was not then fulfilled. Neither did 
Antiochus set up the "Abomination that maketh desolate," 
as mentioned in verse 31, chapter 11, and in chapter 9, 
verse 27. Religious persecutions have always been the 
most cruel of all cruelties. Many rulers during the 
Roman persecutions between Nero and Diocletian were 



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115 



as cruel to their subjects as Antiochus, on account of 
religious differences. After the death of Antiochus 
Epiphanes. his young son, Eupator, and his general, 
Lysias, continued the war with the Jews. It was this 
son, and not Antiochus, as often stated, who, when he 
had secured possession of the city by making a league with 
the Jews, violated his oath, tore down the temple wall, 
and made one Alcimus, who was not of the priestly order, 
high priest. He, with the ''Runagate" Jews, as Josephus 
calls them, at different times did the Jewish nation much 
harm. 

But the tenacity and vigor of the Jewish defenses 
under the different sons of Mattathias made the latter 
kings of Syria to respect their power. Finally one of 
the Grecian kings made a league of peace with the Jews 
and granted them many favors, until the days of the 
high priest, Hyrcanus, when the league of the Romans 
was renewed and Palestine came under the power of the 
Roman rule. Verse 19 ends the prophetic history of the 
wars between the two Greek dynasties of kings before 
the first coming of Christ, about 65 B. C. With verse 
20 also ends the prophetic history of the angel in this 
chapter, that was fulfilled before the first coming of 
Christ. 

Prophecy Fulfilled Before the First Coming of Christ 

The vision that Daniel saw in chapter 9, although 
Daniel saw it before he saw that of chapter 11, takes up 
the prophetic events that stopped at verse 20, chapter 11. 
and completes them up to the crucifixion of Christ, and 
on to the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish nation 
by the Romans under Titus, and the dispersion of the 



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Jews, and makes the general prophetic statements regard- 
ing wars and desolations that shall continue down through 
the centuries to the end of the age. This is found in 
verse 26, which reads, "And after the three score and two 
weeks shall the anointed one be cut off, and shall have 
nothing: and the people of the prince that shall come 
shall destroy the city and the sanctuary; and the end 
thereof (margin) shall be with a flood, and even unto 
the end shall be war; desolations are determined." 

History has fully verified the truth of this verse, and 
the late terrible war in Europe and Asia is still adding 
to the truth of the fulfillment. 

After the prophetic events related in verse 26, chapter 9. 
and also after those of verse 20, chapter 11, the writer 
can find no further prophetic utterances in the book of 
Daniel referring to Israel as a nation until the time of 
the end, or within seven years of the end of the times of 
the Gentiles. (Luke 21 :24). There is therefore this long 
interval of time of the present dispensation of grace, be- 
ginning after the crucifixion of Christ and continuing 
somewhere about two thousand years between the prophetic 
statements of verse 26, chapter 9, and verse 21, chapter 
11, in which there is no direct prophecy in' Daniel con- 
cerning the Jewish nation. 

A Great Proof of the Truth of the Word of God 

To the writer, the fact that there is no prophetic state- 
ment concerning "Daniel's people" as a nation during all 
this time, taken in connection with what goes before and 
what follows after, is a wonderful evidence of the authen- 
ticity and truth and divine origin of the book of Daniel, 
and a proof that all the infidels and higher critics, so 



Comments on Daniel 117 



called, in all the world cannot refute. Yet, in reading 
the verses of this chapter, there is no statement in the text 
itself of any such interval of time. This must be dis- 
covered in studying the meaning of the word of God. 
So far as the writer can see, if one does not recognize this 
interval of time in the study of Daniel, there is great 
confusion and it is impossible to get at the truth. The 
writer believes that one of the greatest and strongest 
proofs of the truth and authenticity of the word of God 
as before stated is and will be found in the word of God 
itself. 

Of What Benefit Were Daniel's Prophecies to the' Jews? 

Of what benefit to the Jews, living in that age, were 
these prophecies? The angel's words given to Daniel 
then were for the purpose undoubtedly of warning his 
people, who lived at that time, that they might be pre- 
pared and escape many of the hardships and cruelties 
described therein, and having a knowledge of the events 
to come, and thereby faith in God be able to withstand 
the great swelling tide of idolatry that rolled in upon 
them like a flood. And having the protection of God, 
which follows faith in Him, be able to stand as a great 
bulwark for the truth and glory of God in that dark age. 
But where can we find any such account? Is there any 
history anywhere extant telling us that the Jews of that 
day understood these things and were prepared for them? 
Even the translation of the Hebrew text of the old testa- 
ment into the Greek, in those days, does not seem to have 
aroused the people by any information imparted by the 
translators. Josephus says nothing about it, so far as 
the writer has seen. He tells us of the quarrels of the 



118 Comments on Daniel 



Jews over the office of the high priest, of their neglect of 
the worship of God (many of them), and their dis- 
obedience of His laws, and of the erection of a Greek 
g3^mnasium within the very confines of the temple court, 
etc. 

All these things would indicate that the Jews, in the 
face of all that God had done for them, by warning them 
through the words of Daniel, did not know these things, 
or did not heed them, and were unprepared for the things 
that came upon them. 

Where were the readers and searchers of God's word 
in those days (Neh. 8:8), who should have understood, 
that they might proclaim to all the people of the land, 
the time of their visitation ? The same condition of things 
existed in the days of Christ on earth. (Lu. 19:42-44). 
So it has been in every age. God has given His people 
and all peoples his warning words in prophecy, that they 
might read and understand the things that are coming 
upon the earth. (2 Ch. 36:15, 16). Will it be any dif- 
ferent at the end of this age that is rapidly drawing to its 
close? 

A Short Recapitulation and Conclusion 

Before beginning the study of verse 21 and on, of 
chapter 11, let us notice that many of the prophetic events 
described by the angel prior to this verse in this chapter 
were then in the future to Daniel, but are in the past to 
us now. They have been fulfilled. In the remainder of 
this chapter we will no longer have history as a guide to 
confirm the prophetic word, consequently there will be 
things no doubt that we may not be able to fully explain. 

It will be necessary, therefore, now to depend on God's 



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119 



word alone for our knowledge of future events, and our 
spiritual discernment to explain them. (I Cor. 2:14). As 
the prophetic events considered in the preceding verses of 
this chapter took us up to the crucifixion of Christ, and 
on to the destruction of Jerusalem, and as we have be- 
tween verses 20 and 21 one of those "gaps" in the pro- 
phetic word, where it leaps over a long period of time, 
including in it this dispensation of grace, and then takes 
up again the prophetic statements on the other side of the 
age, and as God's people, Israel, are still "Lo-Ammi" to 
Him (Hos. 1 :9), and are still scattered among the nations 
of the earth, and He does not yet recognize them as a 
nation, and as we can find no events prophesied of them 
as a nation in Daniel during this long period of time 
referred to, in which we are living; we conclude that 
these future prophetic events that we are about to con- 
sider must belong to the time of the end; that is, to the 
last week of the seventy weeks of years, which is the last 
seven years before the Lord shall come. (Dan. 9:24). 

When the time of the end of this age does come, God 
will again begin to deal with His people Israel as a nation. 
(Isa. 14:1, 2). That time will be called "The Day of 
the Lord." (Isa. ch. 2, see especially 12, 17, and Isa. 
13:6-11). 

It is at the end of this age, and at the beginning of the 
time of the end, that the career of the vile' or contemptible 
person begins. (Dan. 11:27, 35). 

The Beginning of the Career of the Contemptible Person 

Verse 21, "And in his place shall stand up a contemp- 
tible (vile) person, to whom they had not given the honor 
of the kingdom : but he shall come in time of security, and 



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shall obtain the kingdom by flatteries." From the read- 
ing of the first part of this verse, we conclude that the 
contemptible person will begin life as a boy on his father's 
estate, his father probably being chief of some tribe or 
clan of people somewhere in the kingdom, and there he 
(the boy) will grow up, and at the death of his father 
will also become ruler of the tribe as has been the custom 
for centuries in different parts of the world. For aught 
we know he may be a lad in some family there now. Let 
it be noted that the angel has used all the remainder of 
this chapter to prophetically describe the acts and char- 
acter of this contemptible person, also this is the only 
person mentioned in God's word, so far as noted by the 
writer, against whom any angel was permitted to use an 
epithet of reproach. Even Michael when contending; 
with the Devil in a dispute about the body of Moses dare 
not bring a railing accusation against him. (Jude 9). 

Who can this person be, "To whom they had not 
given the honor of the kingdom"? And still he got the 
kingdom, and the angel told Daniel how he got it. 

To whom does "They" refer, and to what kingdom 
does the angel refer? Who had power to give him the 
honor of the kingdom, which the angel in his speech im- 
plies? It cannot refer to any of the kings or kingdoms 
prophetically described in the preceding verses of this 
chapter; for those kings all received their kingdoms, being 
heirs to their respective thrones, except the generals of 
Alexander, who seized upon the kingdoms. Strange thing, 
here. Men or kings do not ordinarily get a kingdom con- 
ferred upon them as an honor, as we may reasonably be- 
lieve to be the custom, here, from the words of the text. 
Does not this "Honor of the kingdom" refer to the elec- 



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121 



tive head or king of the league of nations just formed, 
and which, if it amounts to anything at all, will surely 
become the ruling power among the nations of the earth ? 
Let us see if we can find an answer to these questions 
from the word of God. It is well to remember still that 
the angel came to tell Daniel things that were to befall 
his people (Dan. 10:14), and had already seen in vision 
and heard many astonishing and appalling things. Let it 
be noted also that the angel was talking to Daniel now 
about some person and things, as though he was aware 
that Daniel already knew something about them. 

If not, why did he start in, seemingly, so strangely 
abrupt, about this man's career? Let us turn to Daniel 
chapter 8. We find in verse 16 that Daniel in the vision 
he had then says, "He heard a mans voice," etc. "Which 
called and said, Gabriel, make this man to understand 
the vision," etc. Then in verse 19 of this chapter 8, we 
have what Gabriel then told Daniel. "And he said, Be- 
hold, I will make thee know what shall be in the latter 
time of the indignation, for it belongeth to the appointed 
time of the end." Then there, beginning with verse 23. 
Gabriel prophetically describes the little horn of chapter 8. 
And here the angel in this verse 21, of chapter 11, is also 
prophetically describing a contemptible person, that has 
been shown from the text to be one who will stand up at 
this same time of the end. Is not this person also the 
little horn? Let us see. 

The Little Horn and the Contemptible Person Identical 

It has already been shown beyond a doubt, in a pre- 
vious chapter, that the "little horns" of chapter 7 and 
chapter 8 are identical, one and the same. 

Daniel, in verse 9, chapter 8, tells us that out of one 



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of them, — the four horns (kingdoms) into which Alex- 
ander's kingdom was divided, — came forth a little horn. 
This then is the same little horn described by the angel in 
chapter 7. The angel (v. 16) of chapter 7, says in verse 
24, of that little horn, "He shall be diverse from the 
former, and he shall put down three kings" of the fourth 
beast, or ten-horned kingdom, out of which the little 
horn came. (v. 8). The angel, in verse 22, chapter 11, 
says, "And with the arms of a flood (Jer. 47:2, 3) shall 
they be swept away from before him, and shall be broken ; 
yea, also the prince of the covenant." (margin). Let us 
ask, Who were swept away from before him, and broken, 
with the covenant? Does this not refer to the three kings 
of the fourth beast spoken of in verses 8 and 24 of chap- 
ter 7? 

In verse 23, chapter 11, the angel continuing, says. 
"And after the league made with him (the contemptible 
person) he shall work deceitfully, for he shall come up 
and become strong with a small people." Thus it will 
come about that the contemptible person will gain the 
kingdom of the fourth beast of chapter 7, verse 7, by 
flatteries. Then by his deceitful workings, he will be- 
come strong. After that he will break his covenant with 
the league. Is not this the work of the little horn ? The 
angel of chapter 7 also says of the little horn, in verse 25, 
"He shall speak words against the Most High, and shall 
wear out the saints of the Most High," etc. The angel 
says in verse 35, chapter 11, "And some of them that be 
wise shall fall, to refine them, and to purify, and to make 
them white, even to the time of the end ; because it is yet 
for the time appointed." He also says in verse* 36, "And 
the king (the contemptible person) shall do according to 



Comments on Daniel 123 



his will; and he shall exalt himself, and magnify himself 
above every god, and shall speak marvelous things against 
the God of gods," etc. Notice the acts in both the above 
cases are identical, and the results exactly correspond, and 
both shall come at the time of the end. 

Do not these two angels speak here of the same person, 
the little horn ? 

Daniel, in describing his vision of the little horn, in 
chapter 8, verses 11 and 12, said, "Yea, it magnified itself, 
even to the prince of the host ; and it took away from him 
the continual burnt offering, and the place of his sanctu- 
ary was cast down. And the host was given over to it 
together with the continual burnt offering through trans- 
gression : and it cast down truth to the ground, and it did 
its pleasure and prospered." The angel says, in verse 31, 
chapter 11, concerning the contemptible person, "And 
arms shall stand on his part and they shall profane the 
sanctuary, even the fortress, and shall take away the con- 
tinual burnt offering, and they shall set up the abomina- 
tion that maketh desolate." From all the above evidence 
we must conclude that the angel in describing the acts of 
the contemptible person is also describing the acts of the 
little horn, and that the two persons are identical. Fur- 
thermore, the angel, in the latter part of chapter 11, is 
only continuing the prophetic description of the little horn 
of chapter 8, from where Gabriel began the interpretation 
of the acts of the little horn in Daniel's vision of him. 
In that verse 23, he said, "And in the latter time of their 
kingdom, wiien the transgressors are come to the full, a 
king of fierce countenance and understanding dark sen- 
tences shall stand up," etc. This contemptible person 



124 Comments on Daniel 



then is the king of fierce countenance, and also the little 
horn, which is sometimes called the "Antichrist," who 
will become the king of the fourth beast kingdom (Dan. 
7:7, 23-25), and will rule the world at the time of th? 
end. 



Chapter Elevex 



THE CAREER OF THE LITTLE HORN 
CONTINUED 

Where He Will Come Up 

The fourth beast kingdom of chapter 7 is still in the 
future and does not come into prominence until some 
time after the leopard, the third beast of Daniel, chapter 
7, v. 6, has come to the height of its power and collapsed. 

As the writer sees things, this has already taken place 
and occurred at the close of the present terrible war. 
(See chapter four of this book). 

As before stated, we learn from the text and from 
history that these beasts of chapter 7 do not succeed one 
another, as the kingdoms described in the image of chap- 
ter 2 did, by each coming up upon the ruins of the pre- 
ceding one and occupying the same territory, but these of 
chapter 7 come up in the order of time as described in 
the text, during the present dispensation, and occupy 
largely different territory on the earth except the last, 
and coexist until the fourth beast has attained power suf- 
ficient to trample the others under foot. (Dan. 7:7). 
The fourth beast kingdom, when it comes, will be made 
up of the nations just formed out of the territory of the 
old Turkish Empire, which was broken to pieces in the 
late war, and which constitutes the toes of the image 
described in Daniel chapter 2, and will occupy largely 



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Comments on Daniel 



the same territory of the old Babylonian and Grecian 
Empires, plus the Germanic portion of Central Europe. 
Now let us take our mental stand* where Gabriel and 
Daniel stood (ch. 8), and see if we can find out where 
"In the latter time of their kingdom" (Dan. 8:23) the 
little horn, the king of fierce countenance, the contemp- 
tible person, shall arise. Daniel was at Shushan, in Elam 
(Persia) by the River Ulai (Dan. 8:2) when Gabriel 
came to talk to him. Wherever the little horn may arise, 
he must arise far enough north so that he can wax ex- 
ceeding great toward the south, and toward the glorious 
land, which is Palestine, and he also must arise far 
enough west of Shushan so that he can wax exceeding 
great toward the east, that is, toward, perhaps, beyond 
Shushan. In order to fulfill all these conditions, he can- 
not arise anywhere else and keep within the bounds of 
the prophecy except somewhere in western southern Asia. 
This would locate him in that part of Alexander's king- 
dom that was ruled over by the dynasty of the Seleucedae. 
(Dan. 8:9). This is confirmed by v. 25, ch. 11, where 
it says, "He (the contemptible person) shall stir up his 
power and courage against the king of the south," etc. 
So that there will be the same old struggle again between 
the king of the north, the little horn and the king of the 
south, in Egypt, with Palestine and Jerusalem between 
them as before, again inhabited by the Jews, who, before 
that time will have returned to their land and greatly 
improved and developed it (Jer. 16:14-17), and have 
again rebuilt the temple. (2 Thes. 2:4). This will also 
fix the center of the power of the fourth beast kingdom 
of chapter 7 near the same locality, somewhere in Asia 
south of the Black and Caspian Seas. Let us take a map 



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127 



and look at this portion of the earth, that was occupied by 
the kingdom of Alexander the Great. We find that the 
Grecian Empire occupied that part of Europe called the 
Balkan Peninsula, and all that part of Asia, from the 
Dardanelles and the Mediterranean Sea, including the 
Babylonian Empire and eastward to the Indus River, 
east of Persia; and from the Black and Caspian Seas, on 
the north, to the Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf, the River 
of Egypt (Nile), and northern Africa on the south. So 
that "The little horn" will arise out of the restored 
Babylonian kingdom, and gain possession of all that vast 
territory ruled over by Alexander, which includes the 
Balkan States, and he will also possess the German Em- 
pire in Central Europe and Egypt in Africa, and will 
rule over it not less than seven years, and gain control 
of all the rest of the world until the end of the age, when 
the Lord will come. 

War Between the Kings of the North and the South 

Returning to the text, ch. 11, v. 24, tells us how the 
little horn will manage to increase his strength. For it 
will be remembered he began with a small people. (Dan. 
1 1 :23 ) . In time of security he shall come upon the fattest 
places of the province and do an unusual thing, as de- 
scribed in the text. He will scatter the spoils of his rob- 
bery among his followers, and thereby draw many ad- 
venturers to him, thus increasing his strength, until he is 
able to plan expeditions against the strongholds of other 
countries. 

With v. 25 begins the prophetic account of the wars 
again between the king of the north (this contemptible 
person, the little horn) and the king of the south, prob- 
ably England, who now rules Egypt, unless England 



128 Comments on Daniel 



should give Egypt autonomy, now being given "a man's 
heart" (Dan. 7:4), in which case the king of the south 
may be some ruler selected by the people, who "Shall war 
in battle with an exceeding great and mighty army" with 
the king of the north. But the angel says, "He shall not 
stand," and tells in vs. 26 and 27 how it will come about. 
For, according to prophecy (Dan. 8:23), the old Grecian 
Empire must be united again, and be ruled over by the 
little horn. 

Three expeditions of this little horn are prophetically 
described by the angel. The first and the results are 
described in vs. 25-27, ch. 11. 

Verse 28 speaks of his returning from this campaign 
with great substance, and his attitude toward the Jews 
and his covenant with them. The second is described in 
vs. 29 and 30. In this expedition "He shall be grieved," 
which we will consider further on. The third expedition 
is described in vs. 40 to 43 inclusive. At the time of the 
end shall the king of the south contend with him, and 
another king of the north shall come against him like a 
whirlwind, with chariots and horsemen and ships, etc. 
Who this king will be we do not know, but the little 
horn will be victorious over them all and he shall enter 
into the glorious land. 

The Plot and the Broken Covenant 

Verse 30 speaks of his indignation against the covenant 
immediately after his return from his second expedition 
against Egypt. This is at the beginning of the last three 
and one-half years of the time of the end. At this time 
he entertains those Jews who had forsaken the covenant, 
of their God, when he plotted the destruction of the Jews. 
Verse 31 tells us of his entry into Palestine, and the vie- 



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109 



tory of his arms over the Jews. In so doing he broke 
his covenant with them. He then takes away the daily 
sacrifice and pollutes the sanctuary by placing "the abomi- 
nation that maketh desolate." Verse 41 speaks of his 
overrunning the Glorious land again, and the overthrow 
of many countries, and of his plucking all Egypt away 
from her king (vs. 42, 43), but the lands of Edom, Moab 
and the chief of the children of Ammon shall escape, 
which is very significant, as we shall see later on. Christ, 
in Mat. 24:15, said, "When therefore, ye shall see the 
abomination of desolation which was spoken of by Daniel 
the prophet, standing in the holy place (let him that 
readeth understand)," etc., and make great haste. There 
is no misunderstanding this warning. Four times in 
Daniel (8:13, 9:27, 11:31, as above, and 12:11) this 
statement is made of the setting up of the image of Satan, 
personified in the little horn. Then he perverts those 
Jews who had departed from the worship of their God. 
Daniel, in v. 12, ch. 8, tells us why the Lord God will 
suffer all these things to come to pass. He says, "And 
the host (God's people) was given over to it (the little 
horn), together with the continual burnt offering through 
transgression." 

Oh, there is where all the trouble lies, and has been, 
through all the ages, with all the people over all the 
earth — Transgression. 

His Words and the Struggling Saints 

We cannot better, concisely describe the words of the 
little horn and the struggles of God's loyal people in 
those coming days, as set forth in vs. 32 to 36, ch. 11, 
than to quote from ch. 7, where the angel in heaven 
graphically describes to Daniel those things and what 



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Comments on Daniel 



became of his kingdom. The angel says, "And he shall 
speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out 
the saints of the Most High : and he shall think to change 
times and the law ; and they shall be given into his hand ; 
until a time, and times and half a time, but the judgment 
shall sit, and they shall take away his dominion, to con- 
sume and to destroy it unto the end." (vs. 25, 26). Let 
it be noted that these two prophetic accounts of the little 
horn are given by two angels, one in heaven (Dan. 7:16), 
and the other on earth (Dan. 10:14). 

So that we have the testimony of two witnesses in 
regard to this matter. 

The Little Horn and His God 

Verses 37-39, ch. 11, the worship of the little horn. 
From v. 37 we learn that publically he does not regard 
the gods of his fathers, neither the gods women desire 
to worship, nor any god, but exalts himself above them 
all. (v. 36). Verse 38 tells us that in his office he honors 
the god of fortresses, and k is a god which his fathers 
knew not. This god he honors with gold and silver and 
precious stones, and pleasant things. Now what is this 
strange god? The writer believes this god is none other 
than Satan himself. - Verse 39 says, "And he shall deal 
with the strongest fortresses by the help of a strange god." 
That same god is referred to in all three verses, also in 
the same verse it says, "Whosoever acknowledgeth him 
(the little horn), he will increase with glory; and he 
shall cause them to rule over many, and shall divide the 
land for a price." Who is it he shall increase with glory, 
etc., we ask? This is explained to John by an angel in 
the Apocalypse, Rev. ch. 17. For we find this little horn 
is prophetically spoken of by many angels and prophets. 



Comments on Daniel 131 



Here the angel, undoubtedly talking of the beast, Satan, 
then incarnate in the little horn, refers to the so-called 
ten kings (vs. 3, 7) or leaders (Dan. 11:39), where the 
angel said, "Whosoever acknowledgeth him," etc. The 
angel interpreting this (Rev. 17:12), said, "And the ten 
horns that thou sawest are ten kings which have received 
no kingdom as yet; but they receive authority as kings 
with the beast for one hour." This looks a good deal like 
a false league which the little horn will have fixed up 
after he had broken up the league of nations by putting 
down three kings. 

The ten horns spoken of here by the angel do not refer 
to the ten horns of Dan. 7:20 and 24; these refer to the 
league of nations, for the little horn will have destroyed 
three of them, as above stated, and broken up the league 
which he had seduced by his flatteries (Dan. 11:21) in 
order to secure the place as head of the kingdom. Some 
of the kingdoms of the league may turn over to him, but 
others will no doubt turn against him and fight him. 

The Little Horn "Is Grieved,'' That Is, Killed 

Going back to vs. 29 and 30, ch. 11, there is given the 
only prophetic account which is adverse to the little horn 
until the end comes. Verse 30 reads, "For the ships of 
Kittim shall come against him ; therefore he shall be 
Grieved," etc. What does this expression mean? Taking 
the ordinary meaning of the word, had he ever been 
grieved when some nation came against him in war be- 
fore? He was wilfully fighting every nation within 
reach — did that grieve him? Would the angel have 
made such a statement if he simply referred to an annoy- 
ance or disturbed state of mind? It is the opinion of 



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Comments on Daniel 



many Bible students that it has a deeper and more signifi- 
cant meaning. What significance would an angel put on 
being killed any way ? In John 5 :43, Christ told the 
Jews, "I am' come in my Father's name, and ye receive 
me not ; if another shall come in his own name, him ye will 
receive." Here He referred to the little horn, who came 
in his own name. 

Gabriel, in Daniel 9 :27, says, referring to the little 
horn, "And he shall make a firm covenant with many 
(Jews) for one week" (of years). It will have been then 
that the Jews will take him for their leader, shepherd, 
Messiah. Gabriel goes on, saying, "And for half of the 
weeks he shall cause the sacrifice and the oblation to cease," 
etc. Then it will be that the little horn will break his 
covenant and begin to destroy the Jews. Then they will 
find out that he is not their Messiah. The Lord said by 
the mouth of Jeremiah, 23:1, "Woe unto the shepherds 
that destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture." And 
also in Zech. 11 :17, "Woe to the worthless shepherd that 
leaveth the flock, the sword (stroke) shall be upon his 
arm and upon his right eye; his arm shall be clean dried 
up, and his right eye sfiall be utterly darkened (put out)." 

Through Isaiah, the Lord said,' referring to the little 
horn as king of Babylon, "But thou art cast forth away 
from thy sepulcher like an abominable branch, clothed with 
the slain, that are thrust through with the sword ; that go 
down to the stones of the pit; as a carcass trodden under 
foot." (v. 19, ch. 14). Here the word of the Lord is de- 
scribing what His people will say of him (the little horn) 
in the day when He (the Lord) shall have set them in 
their own land again, and they are at rest, and Satan, the 
incarnate of the fourth beast of ch. 7, shall have gone into 



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133 



perdition. Read carefully the whole chapter and note 
how he is described here as Satan, himself, and what he 
would do in his rebellion against God if he could. 

What the Prophet John Says of the Little Horn 

John, by the Holy Spirit in the Apocalypse, says, "And 
I saw one of his heads as though it had been smitten 
(slain) unto death; and his death stroke was healed: 
and the whole earth wondered after the beast." (Rev. 
13:3). From these prophetic statements we have strong 
evidence that the little horn, called the beast, will be 
killed in battle. Hence the expression, "Therefore he 
shall be grieved." This will occur when the army and 
navy of some nation represented by the ships of Kittim 
will have been sent against him. 

England now rules the Island of Kittim, called Cyprus. 
We do not know who will rule it then, probably Eng- 
land. But some may doubt the reference in the preceding 
statement, as being the testimony of John referring to the 
little horn of Daniel. Let us look further into the testi- 
mony of John. 

He says, "And he stood upon the sands of the sea." 
(R. V.). The question may be asked, who stood upon 
the sands of the sea? Answer, Satan, as set forth in 
Rev. 12:13, 17. Now let John talk again. He said, 
"And I saw a beast coming up out of the sea." (Rev. 
13:1). Note, sea has the same symbolic meaning here 
as in Daniel 7:3 and Rev. 17:15. John continues, "Hav- 
ing ten horns and seven heads, and on his horns ten 
diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy." What 
beast (kingdom) have we described anywhere else in 
God's word which has ten horns except that of Daniel 



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7:7? But Daniel says nothing about seven heads in any 
place. So we get deeper and deeper into the muddle of 
this prophecy of the heads and horns as we go on. 

It will also be asked, why does not Daniel give some 
account of the seven heads of the fourth beast (Dan. 7:7) 
if that is the same that John saw and described in Apoca- 
lypse, ch. 13, where he says, "The beast had seven heads"? 

Answer, because Daniel does not describe the appear- 
ance of the fourth beast of ch. 7 at all. Daniel inci- 
dentally spoke of his iron teeth in bringing out the de- 
vouring qualities of the beast, and he also mentions his 
destruction of things in referring to stamping qualities. 
In verses 19 and 20 he repeats and also spoke of the nails 
of brass, in order to bring out the tremendous capacity of 
the beast to destroy. But these of themselves do not con- 
stitute a description of the appearance of the beast. 

That is why this fourth beast is sometimes called the 
"non-descript of Daniel." But Daniel did describe the 
power and terrible destructiveness of the little horn and 
his kingdom, together called the "beast." Some say 
Daniel did not see the seven heads described by John. 
Others say the beast described by John is not the same 
that Daniel saw. There are all sorts of opinions on this 
matter. But the writer, from the description Daniel gave, 
believes that he saw the seven heads and all, as men- 
tioned by John in the Apocalypse, but did not describe 
them, because he described the power and character of 
the beast and what he will do, instead. After describing 
the appearance of the other beasts, Daniel said, "After 
this, I saw in the night visions, and behold a fourth 
beast," etc. Then he goes on and tells how terrible, and 
powerful and strong exceedingly, the fourth beast will 



Comments on Daniel 135 



be, and what he will do, and how different he will be 
from all the beasts that were before him. The most that 
he said about the appearance of the beast, was, "It had ten 
horns." By these four little words, we will be able to 
recognize in history, the fourth beast kingdom of chapter 
7, when he comes. But John, in Rev. chapter 13, de- 
scribes the apearance of this same fourth beast of Daniel 
7 :7, which he says was like unto a leopard. So this beast, 
the leopard has come again into view, of which Germany 
before was the principal head; but now the Appendages 
of wings and heads, that Daniel saw, and described in 
v. 6, and which figured so conspicuously in the late war. 
are gone; and in their stead there will have appeared 
upon this same leopard body, feet that were "as the feet 
of a bear," and a mouth "as the mouth of a lion," thus 
forming a monstrosity in combination, many times 
greater in power, coupled with all the swiftness and 
fierceness of the former beast. 



Chapter Twelve 



CHAPTER ELEVEN CONCLUDED, THE 
GREAT RED DRAGON 

The Fourth Beast of Chapter Seven, Compared ivith Ths 
Beast like a Leopard 

Now, in order to meet the many questions and the con- 
fusion that have arisen, in the preceding chapter, let us 
compare the descriptions of the two beasts given by 
Daniel and John. 



Daniel said, The beasts of 
chapter 7, "Came up from the 
sea." (Dan. 7:3). 

Daniel said, "The fourth 
beast had ten horns." (Dan. 
7:7). 

Daniel describes the fourth 
beast as "Terrible, powerful, 
and strong exceedingly; and 
it was diverse from all the 
beasts that were before it." 
(Dan. 7:7, 19). 



John said, "I saw a beast 
coming up out of the sea." 
(Rev. 13:1). 

John said, "The beast 1 
saw, had ten horns and seven 
heads." (Rev. 13:1). 

John said, "And the beast 
which I saw was like a leop- 
ard, and his feet were as the 
feet of a bear, and his mouth 
as the mouth of a lion." 
(Rev. 13:2). 



• Does not the description of the appearance of the beast 
with the feet like a bear, and a mouth as the mouth of a 
lion, given by John, correspond with the character of the 
beast described by Daniel where he said, "And behold, a 
fourth beast, terrible, powerful, and strong exceedingly, 
and it had great iron teeth: it devoured and brake in 
pieces and stamped the residue with his feet, and it was 
diverse from all the beasts that were before it." 



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137 



But let us continue the comparison. 



And the angel said to 
Daniel, "And he shall speak 
words against the Most High." 
(Dan. 7:25). 

And the angel said to 
Daniel, "And shall wear out 
the saints of the Most High." 
(Dan. 7:25). 

And the angel said to 
Daniel, "And he shall think 
to change the times and the 
law; and they shall be given 
into his hands until a time 
and times and half a time." 
(Dan. 7:25). 

And the angel said to 
Daniel, "The fourth beast shall 
devour the whole earth and 
tread it down, and break it in 
pieces." (Dan. 7:23). 



John said, "And he opened 
his mouth for blasphemies 
against God, to blaspheme 
His name." (Rev. 13:6). 

John said, "And it was 
given him to make war with 
the saints, and to overcome 
them." (Rev. 13:7). 

John said, "And there was 
given to him authority to con- 
tinue forty and two months." 
Which is the same as a time, 
times and half a time, three 
and one half vears. (Rev. 
13:5). 

John said, "And there was 
given him authority over 
every tribe and people and 
tongue and nation." (Rev. 
13:7). 



Does not John here thoroughly corroborate and con- 
firm the statements of Daniel? Does any one who be- 
lieves God's word need any more evidence to make him 
believe that the two beasts above described are identical, 
one and the same? Yet these two prophets, led by The 
Holy Spirit, spoke these words of God, more than five 
hundred years apart, how wonderful is the word of God ' 
Then John adds an item of information not stated by Dan- 
iel. He said, "And they worshiped the dragon, because he 
gave his authority unto the beast; and they worshiped the 
beast, saying, Who is like unto the beast, and who is able 
to war with him?" . . . "And all that dwell on the earth 
shall worship him (the beast), every one whose name hath 
not been written in the book of life of the Lamb that hath 
been slain from the foundation of the world." (Rev. 



138 Comments on Daniel 



13:4, 8). Then John repeats the words of our Lord, 
which He so often repeated, "He that hath ears let him 
hear." (Mat. 13:43; Rev. 13:9). Oh, the mighty signi- 
ficance of these words. 

Where and How the Fourth Beast will be Developed 

The fourth beast of chapter 7, will be developed out of 
the territory before occupied by the third beast. It has 
been shown in chapter four of this book, the quadruple 
alliance, Prussia, Austria, Hungary and Turkey, called 
the Central Powers, correspond to the description of the 
blood thirsty leopard or the third beast of Daniel 7 :6. 
The Central Powers also held the Dominion, (Palestine) 
which the prophetic word said was given to it. (Dan. 
7:6). Since the close of the late war, and the breaking 
down of the third beast, Palestine has been placed under 
the protectorate of England by the Allied Powers, pend- 
ing autonomy, which has been promised to it, by England, 
the first beast of chapter 7, which is still undergoing the 
process of being "raised upon its feet, and a man's heart 
being given to it." (Dan. 7:4). It is a matter of history 
and geography that the territory held by the leopard, ex- 
tends from the North and Baltic Seas, on the west across 
the continent of Europe, south of the Russian Empire, 
the second beast of chapter 7, including the Balkan 
States and the whole Turkish Empire in Asia and Africa, 
comprising the old Empire of Alexander the Great, or the 
four kingdoms into which it was divided. In the year 
1914, after the beginning of the late war, England as- 
sumed complete authority over Egypt. After the close 
of the war, the League of Nations was formed, by the 
combined Allied powers. This, undoubtedly foreshadows 
the League of Nations to come, which will be composed 



Comments on Daniel 



139 



of the ten kingdoms described in Daniel, chapter 7, and 
Rev. 13:1-8. They will finally hold the balance of 
power of the nations on the earth. 

The present League of Nations; assuming plenary 
power, without acknowledging The Most High God, as 
The One Great Ruler of all nations, which the great 
Nebuchadnezzar, in all his glory, was forced to acknowl- 
edge, (Dan. 4:37), with all great rulers since ; has 
authorized the formation of the five Balkan states or 
kingdoms, as being ethnically related, Jugo-Slavia, 
Rumania, Albania, Bulgaria and the international terri- 
tory of Turkish Constantinople, which were formed out 
of the several Balkan States existing before the war. This 
group, constitutes the five toes out of the foot of the 
image of Daniel, chapter 2, which was set in Europe and 
ruled over by the kings represented in the image, the last 
one being Turkey, representing the feet of the image. 
(Dan. 2:35, 41-43). 

The Asiatic foot of the image in Turkey, was also 
ethnically divided into just another five kingdoms or 
states, Armenia, Syria, Mesopotamia, Arabia or Hejaz 
and Egypt, representing just the five toes of the same 
image. So that the wonderful prophetic image that Nebu- 
chadnezzar saw, and the meaning was interpreted to him 
by Daniel ; down to the beginning of the toes, has been 
literally and completely fulfilled. (Dan. ch. 2). It is 
also now, a matter of history that the prophecy of the 
image of Daniel, chapter 2, has been literally fulfilled, by 
the territory ruled over by Nebuchadnezzar having been 
successively ruled over by the Empires of Persia, Greece, 
Rome and Turkey, from that day to the present time. 
Each succeeding empire having reached westward a little 



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farther into Europe, than its predecessor, until the Empire 
of Greece reached the shores of the Adriatic Sea. This 
same territory was also successively held by Rome and 
Turkey. The seat of power of the third beast of chapter 
7, like a leopard, was Prussia, situated in western Europe, 
being formed by its alliances with other kingdoms, east of 
it, including the Empire of Turkey, it occupied the same 
territory, prophetically described in the image of Daniel, 
chapter 2. Turkey then- was the last empire preceding 
this one above, to hold the territory representing the feet 
of the image, which feet also have just been divided into 
the ten kingdoms above mentioned representing the ten 
toes of the image. Thus far then the prophecy of the 
image has been fulfilled. The next progress made will 
be the development of these ten kingdoms represented by 
the ten toes of the image, into the fourth beast of Daniel, 
chapter 7, occupying the same territory of the third beast 
of Daniel 7 :6, over which this fourth beast, the little 
horn will become king. At that time, the time of the 
end, the dragon will give the little horn his throne, his 
authority, and his power. 

The Great Red Dragon 

Let us consider for- a moment who this great red dragon 
is. John, under the guidance of The Holy Spirit, in 
Revelation, chapter 12, introduces to us the devil thus, 
"And there was seen another sign in heaven: and behold, 
a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and 
upon his heads seven diadems." Then in verse 9, John 
says, "And the great dragon was cast down, the old 
serpent, he that is called the Devil, and Satan, the de- 
ceiver of the whole world : he was cast down to the earth, 
and his angels were cast down with him." How par- 



Comments on Daniel 141 



ticular The Holy Spirit is here to clearly identify the devil, 
Satan, the old serpent, the dragon, as that one great de- 
ceiver of the whole world. The world does not believe 
God's word, and consequently, does not believe there is 
such a being as the devil. Even many who profess to be 
God's children, do not believe it. But that time will come 
when God will give all who are on the earth, an oppor- 
tunity to become well acquainted with him; who he is, 
and what he can and will do. It is this dragon, the 
Devil, who will raise the little horn from the dead, after 
he was slain on the battle field. (Rev. 13:3). This is 
about what will take place, the devil, having been cast 
out of heaven, (Rev. 12:7) and having seen the little 
horn, who has worshiped him, (Dan. 11:38) rise up out 
of the commotions of the nations, and having obtained the 
kingdom by his flatteries and his wars, he will give him 
his power and his throne, and great authority. (Rev. 
13:2). 

Because the little horn has worshiped him; Satan will 
give him the whole world, everything it is possible for 
him to give. It may be asked, where and how does this 
Satan have any power or throne or authority to give any- 
body? 

Read Lu. 4:2-7, and I John 5:19. In Eph. 6:11, 12, 
we are warned concerning him, that we may be able to 
stand against his wiles. For we are told, that, "Our 
wrestling is not against flesh and blood, but against the 
principalities, against the powers, against the world-rulers 
of this darkness, against the spiritual hosts of wickedness 
in the heavenly places." Is it possible to have made this 
any stronger? In heaven is where the Devil is now. 

From thence he is ruling the world now, and will rule 



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it until the Lord takes it away from him by force. It is 
this same devil who offered Christ the kingdoms of the 
world and the glory of them, if He would fall down and 
worship him. (Mat. 4:8, 9). Is it anywhere said, or 
even hinted, by Christ, that Satan did not have the king- 
doms to give to Christ? Note the Lord's answer in the 
next verse. The Lord never denied that Satan had them 
to give. 

Satan will give to this contemptible person what he 
offered to the Lord of all the heavens and the earth, that 
which was His own. What more could this beast have? 
What a combination and what power. "Who is like unto 
the beast, and who is able to make war with him? (Rev. 
13:4). We stand in awe, wonder and apprehension to 
think what this beast so equipped can do. We fear and 
tremble greatly for the whole world and the people in it, 
those who will be in the grip of this awful monster. For 
the Lord will take care of only those who have listened to 
His call and believe Him and trust Him. (Rev. 3:10). 

The Symbolism of Chapter Twelve. 

Let us look at this chapter 12, of the Apocalypse for a 
moment. John says,- in verse 1, "And a great sign was 
seen in heaven," etc. Then he goes on and in a few 
verses gives us this wonderful symbolism of the woman 
arrayed with the sun (a great glory of light), and the 
moon under her feet (the orb of reflected light), and a 
crown of twelve stars (twelve tribes), typifying the whole 
history of Israel from the days of Jacob (Gen. 37:9) to 
the end of the age, and the struggles of Israel against the 
dragon, in his efforts to destroy the "Seed of the woman," 
jesus Christ, the heir to the throne of Israel, and the 



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148 



Savior of the world. Here, in a few words of grand pic- 
torial language is given to us the sum and substance of a 
great quantity of the written word of God. so that we 
can grasp it all in our minds at once and comprehend its 
full import. In commencing this chapter. John used the 
word "Sign." 

Many people seem to think that where symbols and 
figures of speech are used, they refer only to some sort ot 
a visionary thing that has very little meaning or signifi- 
cance, or were not intended for us to understand or pa} 
much attention to, or may be interpreted in many ways, 
and that the prophet, himself did not know what he was 
saying. The last thought may sometimes be true, but 
you may be sure The Holy Spirit knew what He was 
talking about through the mouth of the prophet. Also, 
He intended His people to understand, and they ought to 
give proper heed and study to His word. His words de- 
mand that the reader be enlightened by The Holy Spirit 
and give more thought than the slighting remarks, "O 
that is figurative," etc. Instead of slighting these pas- 
sages we should give them, if any difference is made, more 
thought and attention and weight, than the plain state- 
ments, if we expect to understand them. God is some- 
times straightened, so to speak, to give His thoughts to 
man. in man's language so man can understand. 

So He uses man's figures of speech, sometimes invents 
His own, thereby emphasizing, as well as explaining His 
thoughts and showing their importance. 

Also, these figures of speech in a few words often give 
the contents of the main doctrine or thought of whole 
chapters of God's word. Such is the case above. 



144 



Comments on Daniel 



The Heads and Horns of the Beast and the Dragon 

Through the gift of the Holy Spirit, Daniel and John 
said, they saw the fourth beast of Daniel, chapter 7, 
having ten horns, and John added, seven heads, and on 
his horns diadems. That means they were kings. John 
further said,, and on his heads, blasphemy. That means, 
irreverance and disobedience toward God. John further 
said, "And behold a great red dragon having seven heads 
and ten horns, and upon his heads seven diadems." (Rev. 
12:3). Are these two beasts identical? Let us see. 
One is described "as like a leopard (spotted) his feet as 
the feet of a bear, and his mouth as the mouth of a lion." 
(Rev. 13:2). The other is described "as a dragon, great 
and red," (Rev. 12:3). 

One "came out of the sea." (nations in commotion), 
(Rev. 13:1). The other "was cast down from heaven." 
(Rev. 12:9). One is modern, and comes at the time of 
the end. (Dan. 7:21, 22). The other is ancient, Eve 
was first introduced to him, by himself in the garden of 
Eden and she was fascinated by him. (Gen. 3:1). The 
ten horns of the beast are kings and wore crowns. (Dan. 
7:7, 24). 

The ten horns oi the dragon are explained in Rev. 
17:12, 13, after he is incarnate in the beast, as kings, 
which have received no kingdoms as yet, etc. 

The seven heads of the beast have no crowns, but have 
the names of blasphemy on their heads. They undoubted- 
ly will be the elected heads of the League of Nations, and 
are nowhere described, except the last head, or seventh, 
who will be the little horn, gaining the head of the League 
and kingship of the fourth beast kingdom by flatteries. 
(Dan. 11:21). The seven heads of the dragon Satan 



Comments on Daniel 



145 



were kings and wore crowns. (Rev. 12:3). How can 
these descriptions refer to the same person? They arc 
not identical. 

But before we go further, let us look at this book of 
the Apocalypse for a moment, written by John on the 
isle of Patmos. The first verse says, "The Revelation 
of Jesus Christ, wliich God gave him to show unto His 
servants, even the things which must shortly come to pass : 
and He sent and signified it by His angel unto His ser- 
vant John." (Rev. 1:1). In chapter 4, verse 1, after 
John had told us many things, he said, "I saw and 
behold, a door opened in heaven, and the first voice which 
I heard, a voice as of a trumpet speaking with me, one say- 
ing, come up hither, and I will show thee the things which 
must come to pass hereafter. And straightway I was in 
the Spirit," etc. Then he goes on and tells us many more 
things that he saw, which we in this small volume can- 
not relate. But in chapter 6, verse 2, he said, "And I 
saw, and behold a white horse, and he that sat thereon 
had a bow, and there was given unto him a crown, and he 
came forth conquering, and to conquer." This is the first 
introduction to us of the little horn in the Apocalypse. 
Then John went on in the remainder of the chapter to 
describe many terrible and wonderful things that he saw, 
symbolically represented by the opening of the seven 
sealed book delivered to the Lamb of God in heaven rep- 
resenting the terrible trials and judgments that were 
coming upon the earth. In this short chapter of the open- 
ing of the six seals, John gives us a short compendium of 
the main events that will take place in the last week of 
the seventy weeks of years described in Daniel, 9 :24. 
Then in the opening of the 7th seal, John goes back over 



146 Comments on Daniel 



the same ground, beginning with chapter 8, and gives a 
more detailed account of events that will transpire in 
heaven and on earth, and the doings of the little horn, 
and the judgments of God that follow upon the earth 
with them, until we come to the 12th and 13th chapters, 
where what John saw joins on with what Daniel saw. 



Chapter Thirteen 



THE RENAISSANCE OF ASIA, THE RAPTURE 

The Relation of the Little Horn to Satan 

When Satan will have raised the little horn from the 
dead, after he had been "Grieved," that is killed, (Dan 
11:30) Satan becomes incarnate in the little horn and 
gives him his throne, his power and great authority. 
(Rev. 13:2). 

After that it will no longer be the little horn that acts, 
but Satan, for he is a spirit and must have some human 
body to act through. As The Spirit of God is manifest 
through His Son, Jesus Christ, so Satan will act through 
the little horn. Let us further notice, that the ancient 
beast, Satan, the dragon, the Devil, will be combined with 
the modern beast whose kingdom will be the "Non- 
descript" of Daniel, chapter 7, whose appearance is 
described in Rev. 13:1-8, by John. But the modern beast 
will be wholly dominated by the ancient beast Satan. The 
modern beast has become his executor. From this time 
on, in prophecy, John usually speaks of Satan as "The 
beast." We hear the question asked, who is this Satan- 
filled beast, that we are hearing so much about? The 
Holy Spirit speaks of him by the mouth of His prophets 
as "He that sat on the white horse," etc. (Rev. 6:2). 
"The Little Horn." (Dan. 7:8; 8:9). "The king of a 
fierce countenance." (Dan. 8:23). "The worthless 
shepherd." (Zee. 11:17). "The willful king." (Dan. 



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11:36). "The king of Babylon." (Isa. 14:4). "The 
Assyrian." (Isa. 14:25). "The man of sin." (2 Thes. 
2:3, 4). "The vile person." (Dan. 11:21). "The law- 
less one." (2 Thes. 2:8-10). "The beast having seven 
heads and ten horns." (Rev. 13:1, 2). "The antichrist." 
(I John 2:22). Such are some of the names given to him, 
by our merciful Heavenly Father, "Who willeth that all 
men should be saved, and come to a knowledge of the 
truth." (1 Tim. 2:4). 

Satan the Harlot and the Kings 

In chapter 17, we read, an angel interpreted the mean- 
ing of the relation of the harlot and the beast to John. 
In verse 3, he said, "And he carried me away in the 
Spirit into a wilderness: and I saw a woman sitting 
upon a scarlet colored beast, full of the names of blas- 
phemy, having seven heads and ten horns." We cannot 
be mistaken in regard to who this beast is. Then in the 
next three verses, John gives us a wonderful description 
of the wickedness and iniquity of the harlot woman. 
Babylon as God sees it, and what she has done and is 
doing to the saints of God and to the earth. In verse 7, 
the angel says, "I will tell thee the mystery (secret) of 
the woman, and of the beast that carrieth her," etc. Now 
there are two things the angel is going to tell. The secret 
of the scarlet colored beast and the secret of the harlot. 
In verse 8, the angel begins and shows the different phases 
of the beast, by saying, "The beast that thou sawest was" 
that is, was living, "And is not," that is, he is now dead. 
This represents the time when the little horn will lay on 
the battlefield dead, and his spirit is in the abyss, or the 
place of the dead. (Isa. 14:15, 16). "And is about to 
come up out of the abyss." That is Satan is about to 



Comments on Daniel 149 



raise him from the dead ; bring his spirit back to his body, 
and make him alive again and then dominate his life. 
And then afterwards he is to go into perdition. Notice, 
the angel does not say a word here about his career after 
Satan will have raised him from the dead, but only tells 
what will finally become of him, Perdition. Then the 
angel speaks of the surprise and wonder of the people on 
the earth, and only those, " Whose names hath not been 
written in the book of life from the foundation of the 
world." Oh, the mighty significance of these words. A 
whole chapter could be written on them if space would 
permit. 

The Seven Heads 

Notice again, The angel has just been describing what 
the modern side of the double beast will be ; now in verse 
9, he begins and describes the heads of the scarlet or 
ancient side of the beast, Satan, what they are and will 
be. Part of these heads are ancient and part are modern, 
the last of which is the little horn, who became the last 
head of the league of nations by his flatteries. The angel 
says, "The seven heads are seven mountains (another 
name for kings or nations, Jer. 5 1 :25 ) on which the 
woman (Babylon) sitteth." 

In the very next verse (10) the angel saj r s, "They (the 
mountains) are seven kings; the five (represented in the 
image, Dan. ch. 2) are fallen, the one is, (the leopard, 
Dan. 7:6) and the other is not yet come; (the fourth 
beast of Dan. 7:7) and when he cometh he must continue 
a little while." Here, the angel refers to all the kingdoms 
that will have ruled over the Dominion (God's land) 
from the days of Nebuchadnezzer, down to the end of 
the age. The little horn is again referred to in verse 11, 



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where the angel says, "And the beast that was, and is 
not, is himself also an eighth, and is of the seven." Notice, 
the little horn, is the seventh head, until he is killed, after 
that when he is raised from the dead by Satan, he be- 
comes the eighth. This is shown to be so, because in 
this verse 11, the little horn is again referred to by the 
same expression, "And he goeth into perdition," the same 
statement that was made of him in verse 8. Now from 
the angel's description, the question will arise, Who were 
the ancient heads, and who are the modern, of the seven 
heads. 

The angel in his interpretation says they are all kings 
or kingdoms, although called heads. 

The Five Ancient Heads of Satan 

To name them we must go back into ancient history and 
bring to mind the kings and kingdoms of the past, that 
Daniel saw and described in the image of chapter 2, 
which belonged to the Devil, and with which he perse- 
cuted and destroyed the people of God, Israel, first and 
later, the saints of the church from the days of Nebu- 
chadnezzer, all down through the ages, to the present 
time, and will continue so to do, on to the end of the age. 
Daniel described the five that are fallen, in the image 
that Nebuchadnezzer saw, (Dan. 2:31-33). 

He, himself was the first, Persia was the second, Greece 
was the third, Rome was the fourth, and Turkey was the 
fifth. These all coming in succession, were world-powers, 
and held and ruled over the same territory, and the Do- 
minion, Palestine, since the day God gave His people, 
Israel, into the hands of Nebuchadnezzer, because of their 
wickedness and rebellion against Him. 

The' modern heads are, first, the leopard beast, (Dan. 



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151 



7:6) which was the sixth, and which is "The one is." 
(Rev. 17:10). Turkey had ceased to be a world-power, 
and Palestine was not held by this kingdom alone but 
was held by the "Leopard," or Central Powers, as it 
was called, since the year 1903, as before explained. The 
second modern head, will be the fourth beast of Dan. 7 :7, 
the seventh head of the scarlot colored beast, Satan, when 
developed with the little horn as ruler. "And when he 
cometh he must continue a little while." (Rev. 17:10). 
When the little horn has been raised from the dead he 
will become the eighth head as explained above. (Rev. 
17:11). It is this eighth head of Satan, "That will have 
indignation against the holy covenant," that the little 
horn made with the Jews when he was the seventh head, 
and posed as the Messiah, before he was killed. (Dan. 
9:27). "And arms shall stand on his part, and they shall 
profane the sanctuary, even the fortress, and shall take 
away the continual burnt offering, and they shall set up 
the abomination that maketh desolate." (Dan. 11:31). 
This will take place after he has been killed and raised 
from the dead. At this time he will be the eighth head 
of Satan, which is of the seven. (Rev. 17:11). The angel 
says, in Daniel 11:41, "He shall enter into the glorious 
land," etc. And in verse 45, he further says, "and he 
shall plant the tents of his palace between the sea and 
the glorious holy mountain, yet he shall come to his end." 
(Dan. 8:25, 11:45). As above described, we have the 
whole catalog of the seven heads of the Devil, represented 
in these great idolatrous world-powers, that have held the 
heritage of God's people (Ex. 6:8) and persecuted them 
for so many centuries, and by which powers, Satan has 
for so many centuries deceived the people of the world 



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and taken the reverence and worship away from the 
righteous, patient and true God, and given it to false gods. 
Beginning away back in the past after the flood when 
Nimrod (Nimrod means, to rebel) incited by Satan, be- 
gan his rebellion against God and built his city Babel. 
(Gen. 10:8 and 11:1-8). There and then the people 
began to play the harlot, by worshiping other things than 
God. From that day to this, the whole world has been 
corrupted and made drunk by the practices of this babel 
city, called Babylon, the harlot, which must be restored 
in order that she may be punished according to God'> 
word. There seems to be a diversity of opinion in regard 
to what constitutes the "Harlot," as found in God's 
word. The christian living in India may claim that 
Buddism with its millions of adherants is the "Harlot." 
The same may be said of Islamism, or Confucianism. A 
protestant living in Europe or America, may claim that 
Romanism is the "Harlot." 

As the writer sees it, any definite departure from the 
obedience and worship of God, as prescribed in His word 
is called by Him, "Harlotry." (Ex. 34:14, 15 and Jer. 
2:19, 20). The "Harlot" then, is an hydra headed 
octopus including all these forms of false religions, cover- 
ing the whole earth. Their numbers are legion. These 
false religions were first started in ancient Babylon by 
Nimrod, the rebel, as before stated, and they have been 
multiplying ever since. 

God's Purpose in the Call of A braharn 

Then it was that God called Abraham of the country 
of the Chaldeans and made of his seed a peculiar people, 
Israel, that they might know Him, whom the world had 
forgotten, in order that, through them, the world might 



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be brought back to the knowledge of God. Instead of 
doing the will of God in this, they began to worship these 
same idols of Babylon, thus continuing the whoredom of 
that city. Then God sold them into the hands of the 
Babylonians. In this way they were forever cured of the 
worship of idols. Again God restored them to their 
lands. Again they forgot the ordinances of their God. 
and utterly failed to carry out His will in bringing the 
world to the knowledge of God. 

In due time God sent His Son, the Messiah, to His 
people, in order that the world might be brought to the 
knowledge of God. through the kingdom that He would 
set up. But His own people would not believe Him. but 
rejected, and killed Him. God raised Him from the dead 
and took Him back to heaven, then God sent the Romans 
to destroy their city, Jerusalem. Again they were driven 
away into captivity, into all the nations, and their land 
and city has been trodden down by the nations ever since, 
and the religions of the harlot city, Babylon, still holds 
sway over the earth, save a chosen few, called the church 
of Christ, who believe on his name, through the preach- 
ing of His gospel. Hence, the angel showed to John, 
Babylon. "The Mother of harlots, the abominations of 
the earth." (Rev. 17:5). The above being true how can 
Babylon suffer the punishment pronounced against it as 
described in Isaiah, chapter 47, and Revelation, chapter 
18, and elsewhere, unless it is rebuilt? 

The Renaissance of Asia 

Before that great day of destruction can come, the 
writer believes that, not only will the city of Babylon be 
rebuilt, but also the great valley of Mesopotamia laying 
between the rivers of Tigris and Euphrates, and all Cen- 



154 Comments on Daniel 



tral Southern Asia that has been almost depopulated, will 
again become filled with people. When peace and con- 
fidence is again restored, this will begin under the rule 
and direction of a league of kings or heads of the nations. 
Then the countries will be opened up. The old irriga- 
tion canals will be restored and the resources of the coun- 
tries greatly developed. 

Modern sagacity, enterprise and industry will dominate, 
and that mighty territory of Central Southern Asia and 
Eastern Europe, which is represented in the feet of the 
image of Daniel, chapter 2, will be built up into a great 
and powerful empire, which will finally prove to be the 
fourth beast kingdom, described in Daniel, chapter seven, 
verse seven. Those countries will become the center of 
gravitation of the people of the whole world. It will be 
no longer said, as written by Dean Burkley, "Westward, 
the course of empire takes its way," but the whole world 
will be looking toward the Orient. Emigration from all 
parts of the world will move toward those lands, until 
they will become filled with millions of people. The 
world generally will become prosperous. 

The wares and products of industry of all kinds made 
in the Occident will find a ready market in the Orient. 
Under the impetus of modern inventions and enterprise, 
all industries will thrive for a time. Great railroad sys- 
tems will be built in the Orient. The telephone and 
wireless telegraphy will greatly quicken the intercommuni- 
cation of the nations of the earth. 

Sea and aerial navigation between the East and the 
West will be greatly augmented. Travel will be greatly 
increased. With the still greater increase of wealth, the 
pleasures of the world will also multiply. The machina- 



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tions of Satan and the great harlot will have full swing, 
until the people of the world will be drunken with their 
orgies. The true worship of God will be almost forgot- 
ten. Christianity will become greatly perverted, "hold- 
ing a form of godliness, but having denied the power 
thereof." (2 Tim. 3:1-5). "They will not endure sound 
doctrine." (2 Tim. 4:3, 4, and Mat. 24:10-13). 

The Autonomy of Palestine 

In the meantime, automony will have been given to 
the Jews in Palestine, as has been promised by the present 
mandatory, England. This will take place in spite of all 
opposition to it that may arise, for the Lord has declared 
it. (Jer. 23:7, 8). The Jews may go to Palestine in 
unbelief of the true Messiah, but they will believe in the 
false one (John 5:43), and live under a government of 
their own people, and be free from persecution. The 
Zionist movement will encourage many thousand Jews 
to return to the land of their fathers. The country will 
be greatly developed. Already the prophecy of the 
"Highway out of Egypt to Assyria" (Isa. 19:23-25) is 
beginning to be fulfilled, by the building of the railroad 
running from Cairo in Egypt to Jerusalem, then to Da- 
mascus and on to Bagdad by the way of Aleppo. The time 
will come that, "In that day shall Israel be the third with 
Egypt and Assyria, a blessing in the midst of the earth." 
A new temple will also be built for the worship of 
Jehovah and the old ceremonies will be reestablished. 
(2 Thes. 2:4). Jerusalem will be greatly enlarged and 
beautified. The return of the early and latter rain will 
cause the land to flow again with milk and honey. These 
generally prosperous conditions will continue for a sea- 
son. The empire of the beast will have become power- 



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ful and aggressive. The little horn will have acquired 
the kingdom by flatteries, (Dan. 11:21) and declared 
himself to be the Messiah and made his covenant with 
the Jews. (Dan. 9:27). 

The Rapture. 

When suddenly and without warning, the Lord will 
appear in the air above the earth. Then all the 'saints 
whose bodies are in the earth will arise, and together with 
the waiting church that is on the earth, all, with a shout 
will depart to be forever with the Lord. (1 Thes. 4:13- 
17). This will be the first real shock the people of the 
world will receive telling them that the end of the age 
and the day of the Lord is at hand. When they see that 
millions of the glorified saints of the church have de- 
parted, then the world will take notice and believe that 
the word of the Lord is true. The people will stand ap- 
palled to see who is taken and who is left in the division 
of families and friends. The cry that will go up will be 
greater than the cry in Egypt at the death of all the first 
born. But will it excede the shout of the redeemed who 
have gone home to glory? The world has become acus- 
tomed to the strikes of large bodies of men, but it will 
never have seen any strike like this. No such scene will 
have ever taken place before. This is the Lord's doing. 
Every department of the world's work, all over the whole 
earth will be interrupted. The very foundations of the 
social organizations of the earth will be involved. The 
most reliable and trustworthy people of the world will 
have suddenly departed. The very salt of the earth, will 
have vanished, leaving the whole world paralyzed and 
crippled in every department of its service. Horror and 
astonishment and mourning will abound in every place. , 



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But there will be no dead bodies of the redeemed to be 
buried. No doubt there will be many learned dissertations 
and explanations on this wonderful event. But whatever 
their conclusions may be, the people left on the earth will 
find themselves like the foolish virgins with no oil in their 
vessels for their lamps and while they are gone to buy, the 
bridegroom will have come and shut the door and it will 
be too late for them. (Mat. 25:2-13). 

The preaching of the gospel of evangelism will then 
entirely cease. When the world will have sufficiently re- 
covered from the shock to again take up the world's work, 
the gospel of the kingdom will again begin to be preached. 
(Mat. 9:35, and 24:14). But it will largely be accepted 
as referring to the false Messiah instead of the true. Then 
the little horn will soon begin war and pluck up and put 
down three kings, and the last mighty struggle on the 
earth will have begun, as described in the last part of 
Daniel, chapter 11. But as Paul has said, in 2 Thes. 2:3, 
"Let no man beguile you in any wise: for it will not be, 
('touching the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and our 
gathering together unto him') except the falling away 
come first, and the man of sin, (the little horn) be re- 
vealed, the son of perdition." Let us ask, has "The fall- 
ing away" come yet? Can we now daily look for the 
Lord to come in the air? Has "The falling away" com- 
menced? If so, when will it be completed? Who can 
tell? "But watch ye at every season, making supplication, 
that ye may prevail to escape all these things that shall 
come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man." (Lu. 
21 :36). "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that 
day should overtake you as a thief." (1 Thes. 5:4). 



Chapter Fourteen 



THE LAST VISION OF DANIEL CONTINUED 
THE BATTLE OF ARMAGEDDON 

Michael That Great Prince 

In this first verse of chapter 12, we have come to the 
climax of all things that have been foretold and described 
in this book. Let us read it. "And at that time shall 
Michael stand up, the great prince which standeth for 
the children of thy people: and there shall be a time of 
trouble, such as never was since there was a nation even 
to that same time: and at that time thy people shall be 
delivered, every one that shall be found written in the 
book." Three things are to be considered in this verse. 
First, the standing up of Michael that great prince. 
Second, the time of trouble. Third, the deliverance of 
every one whose name is found written in the book. 

Several times has this name Michael been brought to 
our notice. God's word often speaks of the princes of 
this world. It also speaks of the prince of the powers of 
the air, (Eph. 2:2) but here the angel speaks of Michael 
as "One of the chief princes of the angels." (Dan. 10:13). 
The name in Hebrew means, "Like God." Even Satan, 
who is described as the king of Tyre, (Ezek. 28:12-19) is 
no match for Michael. We notice that when Michael 
comes into view, there is something doing, until we feel 
like calling this great warrior of heaven, the Generalissimo 
of the Hosts of the Almighty, so great is his power. The 



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159 



first time we get sight of him, is when he is sent to help 
the angel, in linen, who has been intercepted from going 
to Daniel by the demon prince of the kingdom of Persia, 
one of the Devil's angels. 

When Michael came the angel was no longer needed 
(margin) but was able to proceed on his mission, al- 
though he had been detained there three weeks. The angel 
also told Daniel, "That which is inscribed in the writine 
of truth and there is none that holdeth with me against 
these (the demon angels of Satan) but Michael your 
prince." (Dan. 10:21). The second time we get a 
glimpse of him, is in this verse where he stands up for 
Daniel's people. 

What he will do, the angel does not directly state, but 
from what we have already seen of him, we may be sure 
he will take care of all Israel whose names are written in 
the book. Even though God has punished Israel a long 
time on account of their disobedience, yet He will not for- 
sake them. (Ezek. 36:24-38). The next time we see 
Michael is in Jude, verse 9, where he is fighting with the 
Devil about the body of Moses. Again he is too much 
for the Devil. The next time we get sight of him is in 
Rev. 12:7-9, where he and the angels will have cast the 
whole demon force, Devil and all, out of heaven to the 
earth. Ever since the days of Job, at least, this Devil has 
been pestering and accusing the saints before God, (Job 
1:9-11) but, Praise the Lord! We have an advocate 
with the Father, Jesus Christ, who is at the right hand of 
God, who also maketh intercession for us. (Rom. 8:34). 
But when Michael shall have cast Satan out, he will be 
forever removed out of heaven. 

This account of Michael in the Apocalpyse undoubt- 



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edly refers to the beginning of the same time that. we are 
now considering in Daniel. For the word says, "Woe 
for the earth and for the sea: because the devil is come 
down to you having great wrath," etc. (Rev. 12:12). 
How little we know, how much the Devil and his angels 
are trying to hinder, delay and thwart God's plans and 
movements of His angels, from carrying out His plans 
concerning the affairs of this world. We know that long 
before the days of Nebuchadnezzer, Satan and his angels 
had been able to maintain a ruling power over the world. 
(Gen. 3:1, 10:10). What is that described in Daniel, 
chapter 2, but an image of Satan, himself, which has over- 
shadowed the world ever since Nebuchadnezzer saw the 
image, and which will be set up by him, and the people 
forced to worship as described in Rev. 13:14? 

But we know that Satan with all his angels and his 
own power combined will not succeed. God said, "For 
yet the end shall be at the time appointed." (Dan. 11 :27). 
Sometime, there must have been lively times up there in 
heaven. No wonder the earth became waste and void. 
(Gen. 1:2). God did not make it so. (Isa. 45:18). It 
must have been wrecked some way in the terrible con- 
flict going on in the universe. No wonder there are still 
great disturbances in the air above us, perhaps caused by 
this prince of the air, besides the terrible wars and tumults 
the earth is even now suffering because of this great rebel 
and deceiver. Paul, through the gift of The Holy Spirit, 
calls him, "The prince of the power of the air." (Eph. 
2:2). Christ calls him, "The prince of this world." 
(John 12:31). From all the evidence we have, there is 
good foundation to believe that, as God has ministering 
angels, such as Michael, Gabriel and others, to do his 



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will, (Heb. 11 :4; Dan. 6:22; Rev. 5:6) so also the Devil 
has his angels of evil to do his will. (Dan. 10:13, 20). 
No wonder there is war in the universe, and undoubtedly 
will be, until Satan is put down, and he and his angels 
are cast into the lake of eternal fire prepared for them. 
(Mat. 25:41). How could there be otherwise than war, 
so long as the two mightiest forces in the universe, one 
force, God's hosts all righteous and obedient; the other, 
Satan and his angels, all evil, disobedient to God, and 
waring against him. Here in this book of Daniel we have 
just a hint of what is going on in the heavens and earth. 

Not long hence, this warfare will be confined to the 
earth alone. When the Church triumphant is taken on 
high, then the Devil and his defeated forces will be driven 
down to the earth, if not before. (Rev. 12:7-9). 

Then finally, it will cease on the earth. (Rev. 20:1-3). 
Praise the Lord ! 

The Time of Trouble. 

The second part of verse 1, reads, "There shall be a 
time of trouble such as never was since there was a nation, 
even to that same time." This will begin after Satan is 
cast down to the earth. This is called, "The time of 
Jacob's trouble." (Jer. 30:7). But it will prove to be 
the time of everybody's trouble, whose names are not 
written in the book. This will be the crucial time of all 
nations and of all life upon the earth. Then this ter- 
rible Satan-filled beast, which Daniel and John have been 
describing, will put forth all his power to conquer the 
whole earth and make it worship him. This will be his 
supreme effort, his final master stroke, the mightiest strug- 
gle the heaven and the earth have ever seen. And as 
Christ has said, "Except those days had been shortened no 



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flesh would have been saved." (Mat. 24:21, 22). Praise 
the Lord! How helpless man is, in the face of such 
forces as here contend, although he thinks he is some 
great one. Were it not for our Mighty Lord, and His 
hosts, what would become of the world? This solemn 
thought forces itself upon our attention, whatever the 
immediate specific purpose The Holy Spirit had in giving 
these visions to Daniel may have been, His final and prin- 
cipal object was, to show to him, for his people, and to 
the whole inhabited world, through him, the career of 
this fierce, powerful, relentless, and cruel being; and 
thereby warn all mankind of his intents and purposes. 

The Great Religious W nr 

When the Devil is united with the beast called the 
Little Horn, this is about what will take place, the great- 
est and most awful tradegy the world has ever seen. He, 
who for ages, through the harlotry of Babylon has de- 
prived the Most High God of the reverence due Him, 
will, when the time comes for him to exploit the world., 
for the worship of himself — for he seems to have an obses- 
sion to be worshiped like God — (Isa. 14:13, 14) he will 
endeavor to force the whole world to worship himself, 
and all who will not' do it, he will strive to destroy. (Rev. 
13:15, 16). This the Lord will permit him to do, until 
He comes. But He has warned the people of the earth 
by the mouth of angels and prophets, what will follow. 
(Rev. 14:9-11). All the persecutions and religious wars 
of the past will be small affairs compared with this. 

It will reach every community in every state, in every 
nation on the face of the whole globe. The world has 
already become one neighborhood. 

All who will not receive the mark of the beast on their 



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163 



bodies and worship him or his image will be deprived of 
the privilege to transact any business, even to buying, 
giving away, receiving, or selling the necessities of life. 
(Rev. 13:16, 17). All such will be marked for slaughter. 
This will affect every person alike, without regard to cast 
or distinction, whether christian or idolator, Moslem or 
Mormon, Catholic or Protestant, sinner or saint, Bolshe- 
vist or Monarchist. All law and order will be done 
away with, all social organization will be utterly broken 
down and destroyed in the struggle. Neighbor will be 
against neighbor, family against family. Spite and hatred 
and malice and lust and plunder and murder will be let 
loose, until the whole world will have become one great 
field of carnage. The dead will lay fallen and rot un- 
buried and unmourned. (Jer. 25:29-33). This is not all, 
at that time and in that day the Lord will pour out His 
judgments upon the beast and all that follow him. (Isa. 
13:9-11). Then will take place the three woes of the 
trumpets pronounced against the earth-dwellers. (Rev. 
8:13). Verse 12, chapter 9, declares, "The first woe is 
past, behold, there come two woes hereafter." Verse 14 
of chapter 11 declares, "The second woe is past, behold 
the third woe cometh quickly." But who can tell where 
God's word declares the third woe is past? These will 
be followed by the seven bowls of wrath described in Rev. 
chapter 16, which will close with the world-wide and 
greatest earthquake the world has ever known (v. 18). 
The earth will be shaken to pieces as described in Rev. 
6:12-17; Isa. 13:13; Ezek. 38:19-23. With this will 
come the great plague of hail. (Rev. 16:21). Then fol- 
lows the destruction of Babylon as described in Rev. 16:19 
and chapter 18:3-24. The great cities of the world will 



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be totally destroyed. All business will have ceased, every 
industry will be destroyed. The electric plants will be 
ruined. The gas plants will be torn to pieces, and the oil 
wells choked and burning. The water systems will be 
broken. All methods of traffic and transportation will be 
destroyed on land and on sea. There will be death, de- 
struction, devastation and chaos in every place. The 
world will be in darkness. (Jer. 4:23-26). At the close 
of this terrible crisis the earth will be almost depopulated. 
The Lord said, "I will make a man more rare than fine 
gold," etc. (Isa. 13:12). 

WHAT THE PROPHET JOHN SAW AND 
HEARD 

The Preparation for the Battle of Armageddon 
"And I saw another angel flying in mid heaven, having 
an eternal gospel to proclaim unto them that dwell on the 
earth, and unto every nation and tribe and tongue and 
people ; and he said with a great voice, fear God, and 
give Him glory; for the hour of His judgment is come: 
and worship Him that made the heaven and the earth and 
the sea and the fountains of water." (Rev. 14:6, 7). 

"And I saw another beast coming up out of the earth; 
and he had two horns like unto a lamb, and he spake as 
a dragon, and he exerciseth all the authority of the first 
beast in his sight. And he maketh the earth and them 
that dwell therein to worship the first beast, whose death 
stroke was healed." (Rev. 13:11, 12). 

"And another angel, a third, followed them, saying 
with a great voice, If any man worship the beast and his 
image, and receiveth a mark on his forehead, or upon his 
hand, he shall drink of the wine of the wrath of God, 



Comments on Daniel 165 



which is prepared unmixed in the cup of his anger, and 
he shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the pres- 
ence of the holy angels, and in the presence of the Lamb : 
and the smoke of their torment goeth up for ever and 
ever, and they have no rest day and night, they that wor- 
ship the beast and his image, and w T hoso receiveth the mark 
of his name." (Rev. 14:9, 10, 11). 

"And it was given unto him to give breath to it, even 
to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast 
should both speak, and cause that as many as should not 
worship the image of the beast should be killed. And he 
causeth all, the small and the great, and the rich and the 
poor, and the free and the bond, that there be given them 
a mark on their right hand, or upon their forehead ; and 
that no man should be able to buy or to sell, save he that 
hath the mark, even the name of the beast or the number 
of his name." (Rev. 13:15, 16, 17). 

"And I heard a voice from heaven saying, Write, Blessed 
are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth : yea, 
saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labors ; for 
their works follow with them." (Rev. 14:13). 

"And I saw coming out of the mouth of the dragon, 
and out of the mouth of the beast, and out of the mouth 
of the false prophet, three unclean spirits, as it were frogs .* 
for they are spirits of demons, working signs ; which go 
forth unto the kings of the whole world, to gather them 
together unto the war of the great day of God, the Al- 
mighty. And they gathered them together into the place 
which is called in Hebrew Har-Magedon." (Rev. 16:13, 
14, 16). 

"Why do the nations rage, and the peoples imagine a 
vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and 



166 Comments on Daniel 



the rulers take council together, against the Lord, and 
against His Anointed, saying, Let us break their bands 
asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that 
sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: The Lord shall have 
them in derision. Then shall He speak unto them in His 
wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure: Yet I have 
set my King upon my holy hill of Zion. Now therefore 
be wise, O ye kings; be instructed ye judges of the earth. 
Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish in the way." 
(Psal. 2:1,2, 3, 4, 5, 10, 11, 12). 

"And I heard a great voice out of the temple, saying to 
the seven angels, Go ye, and pour out the seven bowls of 
the wrath of God into the earth. And there were light- 
nings, and voices, and thunder; and there was a great 
earthquake, such as was not since there were men upon 
the earth, so great an earthquake, so mighty. And the 
great city was divided into three parts, and the cities of 
the nations fell: and Babylon the great was remembered 
in the sight of God, to give unto her the cup of the wine 
of the fierceness of His wrath. And every island fled 
away, and the mountains were not found.' ' (Rev. 16:1, 
18, 19, 20). 

"And the kings of the earth, who committed fornica- 
tion and lived wantonly with her, shall weep and wail 
over her, when they look upon the smoke of her burning, 
standing afar off for the fear of her torment, saying, Woe, 
Woe, the great city, Babylon, the strong city ! For in 
one hour is thy judgment come. And the merchants of 
the earth weep and mourn over her, for no man buyeth 
their merchandise any more." (Rev. 18:9, 10, 11). 

"And the stars of the heaven fell unto the earth, as a 



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167 



fig tree casteth her unripe figs, when she is shaken of a 
great wind. And the heaven was removed as a scroll 
when it is rolled up ; and every mountain and island were 
moved out of their places. And the kings of the earth, and 
the princes, and the chief captains, and the rich, and the 
strong, and every bondman and freeman, hid themselves 
in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains; and they 
say to the mountains and to the rocks, Fall on us, and 
hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, 
and from the wrath of the Lamb: For the great day of 
their wrath is come; and who is able to stand?" (Rev. 
6:13-17). (See Isa. 2:19-21). 

"And I saw heaven open; and behold, a white horse, 
and He that sat thereon, called Faithful and True; and in 
righteousness He doth judge and make war. And His 
eyes are a flame of fire, and upon His head are many 
diadems; and He hath a name written, which no man 
knoweth but He Himself. And He is arrayed in a gar- 
ment sprinkled with blood: and His name is called the 
Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven fol- 
low Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white 
and pure. And out of His mouth proceedeth a sharp 
sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He 
shall rule them with a rod of iron : and He treadeth the 
winepress of the fierceness of the wrath of Almighty God.'" 
(Rev. 19:11-15). 

The Battle of Armageddon 

"And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and 
their armies gathered together to make war against Him 
that sat upon the horse, and against His army. And the 
beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that 
wrought the signs in his sight, wherewith he deceived 



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them that had received the mark of the beast, and them 
that worshiped his image: they twain were cast alive 
into the lake of fire that burneth with brimstone. And 
the rest were killed with the sword of Him that sat upon 
the horse, even the sword which came forth out of His 
mouth ; and all the birds were filled with their flesh." 
(Rev. 19:19-21). 

"And I saw an angel coming down out of heaven, 
having the key of the abyss and a great chain in his hand. 
And he laid hold on the dragon, the old serpent, which is 
the Devil and Satan, and bound him for a thousand years, 
and cast him into the abyss, and shut it, and sealed it 
over him, that he should deceive the nations no more, 
until the thousand years should be finished : after this he 
must be loosed for a little time." (Rev. 20:1-3). 

Thus shall end the judgments of the Almighty upon 
the little horn, the beast, and Satan ; and the reign of 
Jesus Christ, the Messiah and King, and our Lord shall 
begin. "And a voice came forth from the throne, saying, 
'Give praise to our God, all ye His servants, ye that fear 
Him, the small and the great. And I heard as it were 
the voice of a great multitude, and as the voice of many 
waters, and as the voice of mighty thunders, saying, 
Hallelujah! for the Lord our God, THE ALMIGHTY, 
Reigneth!' (Rev. 19:5, 6). 

"And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and 
judgment was given unto them; and I saw the souls of 
them that had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus., 
and for the word of God, and such as worshiped not the 
beast, neither his image, and received not the mark upon 
their forehead and upon their hand; and they lived, and 
reigned with Christ a thousand years." (Rev. 20:4). 



Chapter Fifteen 



THE SEQUEL 
The Glory of the Coming Kingdom 

''Who is this that cometh from Edom, with crimsoned 
garments from Bozrah? This that is glorious in His 
apparel, marching in the greatness of His strength? I. 
that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore 
art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like 
him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the 
winepress alone ; and of the people there was no man 
with me: yea, I trod them in mine anger, and trampled 
them in my fury; and their lifeblood is sprinkled upon 
my garments, and I have stained all my raiment. For 
the day of vengeance was in mine heart, and the year of 
my redeemed is come." (Isa. 63:1-4). 

But let us take our mental stand and look into the 
scenes of that day of the Lord, guided by the words of 
the prophets, and see what is coming. 

"Come, behold the works of the Lord, what desolations 
He hath made in the earth ; He maketh wars to cease 
unto the end of the earth." (Ps. 46:8, 9). 

"Behold, the Lord maketh the earth empty, and 
maketh it waste, and turneth it upside down, and scat- 
tereth abroad the inhabitants thereof." (Isa. 24:1). 

"I beheld the earth, and, lo, it was waste and void; 
and the heavens, and they had no light. I beheld the moun- 

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tains, and, lo, they trembled, and all the hills moved to 
and fro. I beheld, and, lo, there was no man, and all the 
birds of the heavens were fled. I beheld, and lo, the 
fruitful field was a wilderness, and all the cities thereof 
were broken down at the presence of the Lord, and be- 
fore His fierce anger. For thus saith the Lord, The 
whole land shall be a desolation: yet I will not make a 
full end." (Jer. 4:23-27). 

Showers of rain will wash away the murky darkness 
of smoke and dust, refreshing the air and the earth, leav- 
ing them clean and fresh. The grass, and the flowers, 
and the fruits of the earth, spring up. The sun breaks 
forth in his splendor and there is light. (Ezek. 34:26). 
The birds have returned and are singing in the branches 
of the few remaining trees. 

"And His feet shall stand in that day upon the Mount 
of Olives, which is before Jerusalem on the east, and the 
Mount of Olives shall cleave in the midst thereof toward 
the east and toward the west, and there shall be a very 
great valley ; and half of the mountain shall remove toward 
the north, and half of it toward the south . . . and the 
Lord my God shall come, and all the holy ones with 
thee." (Mat. 25:31-; 1 Thes. 3:13; Jude 14). . . . "And 
it shall come to pass in that day, that living waters shall 
go out from Jerusalem; half of them toward the eastern 
sea, and half of them toward the western sea: in summer 
and in winter shall it be." (Ezek. 47:1-8). "And the 
Lord shall be King over all the earth: in that day shall 
the Lord be one, and His name one. All the land shall 
be turned as the Arabah (plane), from Geba to Rimmon 
south of Jerusalem; and she shall be lifted up, and shall 
dwell in her place, from Benjamin's gate unto the place 



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of the first gate, unto the corner gate, and from the tower 
of Hananel unto the king's winepress. And men shall 
dwell therein and there shall be no more curse; but 
Jerusalem shall dwell safely." (Zee. 14:4, 5. 8-11). 

"But in the latter days it shall come to pass, that the 
mountain of the Lord's house shall be established in the top 
of the mountain, and it shall be exalted above the hills 
and peoples shall flow unto it. And many nations shall 
go and say. Come ye and let us go up to the mountain 
of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Jacob ; and He 
will teach us His ways, and we will walk in His paths: 
for out of Zion shall go forth the law. and the word of 
the Lord from Jerusalem. 

And He shall judge between many peoples, and shall 
reprove strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their 
swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning- 
hooks ; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, 
neither shall they learn war any more. And I will make 
her that halted a remnant, and her that was cast far off a 
strong nation : and the Lord shall reign over them in 
Mount Zion from henceforth even for ever." (Micah. 
4:1-3, 7). 

"Thus speaketh the Lord of Hosts, saying, Behold, the 
man whose name is the Branch ; and He shall grow up 
out of His place, and He shall build the temple of the 
Lord; even He shall build the temple of the Lord; and 
He shall bear the glory, and shall sit and rule upon His 
throne; and He shall be a priest upon His throne." (Zee. 
6:12, 13; Acts 15:16; Amos 9:11). ' 

"And He shall set up an ensign for the nations, and 
shall assemble the outcasts of Israel, and gather together 



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the dispersed of Judah from the four corners of the earth." 
(Isa. 11:12). 

"Thus saith the Lord: I am returned unto Zion, and 
I will dwell in the midst of Jerusalem : and Jerusalem 
shall be called the city of truth ; and the mountain of the 
Lord of Hosts the holy mountain." (Zee. 8:3). 

"I will bring again the captivity of my people Israel, 
and they shall build the waste cities, and inhabit them; 
and they shall plant vineyards, and drink the wine 
thereof; and they shall also make gardens, and eat the 
fruit of them. 

And I will plant them upon their land, and they shall 
no more be plucked up out of their land which I have 
given them, saith the Lord thy God." (Amos 9:14, 15). 

"And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon 
the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and sup- 
plication ; and they shall look unto me whom they have 
pierced : and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth 
for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for Him, as 
one that is in bitterness for his first born. In that day 
shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the 
mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon." 
(Zee. 12:10, 11). 

"In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the 
house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for 
sin and for uncleanness." (Zee. 13:1). 

"When the Lord shall have washed away the filth of 
the daughters of Zion, and shall have purged the blood 
of Jerusalem from .the midst thereof, by the spirit of judg- 
ment, and by the spirit of burning. And the Lord will 
create over the whole habitation of Mount Zion, and 
over her assemblies, a cloud and smoke by day, and the 



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shining of a naming fire by night: for over all the glory 
shall be spread a canopy. And there shall be a pavilion 
for a shadow in the day-time from the heat, and for a 
refuge and for a covert from storm and from rain." 
(Isa. 4:4-6). 

"Sing and rejoice, O daughter of Zion : for, lo, I come, 
and I will dwell in the midst of thee, saith the Lord." 
(Zee. 2:10). 

The Shechinah 

And over Mount Zion there appears a great cloud of 
splendor. A great sound of praise and thanksgiving is 
heard in and around the great new temple that shines 
forth from the top. (Ezek. chs. 40-43). A great cloud 
of incense is rising toward heaven. "And behold, the glory 
of the God of Israel came from the way of the east, and 
His voice was like the sound of many waters, and the 
earth shined with His glory. And the glory of the Lord 
came into the house by the way of the gate whose pros- 
pect is toward the east." (Ezek. 43:1, 4). 

"Lift up your heads, O ye gates; 

And be ye lifted up, ye everlasting doors: 

And the King of glory shall come in. 

Who is the king of glory? 

The Lord strong and mighty. 

The Lord mighty in battle. 

Lift up your heads. O ye gates ; 

Yea, lift them up, ye everlasting doors: 

And the King of glory shall come in. 

Who is this King of glory? 

The Lord of Hosts, 

He is the King of glory." (Psalms 24:7-10). 



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The Marriage of the Lamb Is Come 

"Let us rejoice and be exceeding glad, and let us give 
the glory unto Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is 
come, and His wife hath made herself ready. 

And it was given unto her that she should array herself 
in fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the 
righteous acts of the saints." (Rev. 19:7, 8). "Thou shalt 
no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any 
more be termed Desolate : but thou shalt be called Hepzi- 
bah, and thy land Beulah ; for the Lord delighteth in thee, 
and thy land shall be married." (Isa. 62:4). "Sing, O 
barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, 
and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for 
more are the children of the desolate than the children 
of the married wife, saith the Lord. Enlarge the place 
of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of 
thine habitations: spare not: lengthen thy cords and 
strengthen thy stakes. For thou shalt spread abroad on 
the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall possess 
the nations, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited. 
Fear not; for thou shalt not be ashamed: neither be thou 
confounded ; for thou shalt not be put to shame : for thou 
shalt forget the shame of thy youth (idolatry), and the 
reproach of thy widowhood shalt thou remember no 
more. For thy Maker is thine husband; the Lord of 
Hosts is His name: and the Holy One of Israel is thy 
Redeemer; the God of the whole earth shall He be called." 
(Isa. 54:1-5). "Kings' daughters are among thy honor- 
able women: At thy right hand doth stand the queen in 
gold of Ophir. Harken, O daughter, and consider, and 
incline thine ear: Forget also thine own people, and thy 



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father's house ; so shall the King desire thy beauty : for He 
is thy Lord; and worship thou Him." (Psalm 45:9-11). 

"There is a river, the streams whereof make glad the 
city of God, 

The holy place of the tabernacles of the Most High. 

God is in the midst of her ; she shall not be moved : 

God shall help her, at the dawn of the morning. 

The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved : 

He uttered His voice, the earth melted. 

The Lord of Hosts is with us; 

The God of Jacob is our refuge." (Psalm 46:4-7). 

"Praise ye the Lord. 

Praise God in His sanctuary: 

Praise Him in the firmament of His power. 

Praise Him for His mighty acts: 

Praise Him according to His excellent Greatness. 

Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet: 

Praise Him with the psaltery and harp. 

Praise Him with the timbrel and dance: 

Praise Him with stringed instruments and the pipe. 

Praise Him upon the loud cymbals: 

Praise Him upon the high sounding cymbals. 

Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. 

Hallelujah!" (Psalm 150). 

Shouts of joy and gladness and praise ring out upon 
the air, and echo from hilltop to hilltop. Men and 
women, few and scattered, nerve racked, wan and worn 
with want, whose faces are marked with terror, trembling 
with fear, creep out from their hiding places in the caves 
and holes in the earth and from the blackened and broken 



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ruins of the houses to see what has come to cause such 
joy. They were met by some of the myriads of shining 
angelic forms and faces, which greeted them with kind- 
ness and cheer, administering to their needs, and soothing 
their troubled souls. Rapidly, day by day, these angelic 
hosts spread out farther and farther through all the 
countries of the earth in their administrations of mercy, 
cheering the remnant of the people. But there were no 
babies or children to be found. 

The gold and the silver lay untouched in the broken 
vaults of the cities. 

This was taken to the King to whom it rightfully be- 
longed. (Hag. 2:8). He directed its use for the benefit 
of the saints and the people. Everything else was left 
for the people. 

The Changed Conditions 

What a change will have come over the earth. The 
curses of Satan will have passed away, and the Son of 
God will rule the earth in righteousness. 

Then the libertine, the extortioner, the thief, the rob- 
ber, and the murderer are not found. The jails and the 
prisons are things of the past. The doctors, the nurses, 
the almshouses and the hospitals are no longer needed. 
(Ezek. 47:12). 

Sickness, pain and sorrow are not known. The plagues 
and pests of the present age have disappeared. The 
anguish of the woman in travail has passed away. "There- 
fore thus saith the Lord God." . . . "And I will rejoice 
in Jerusalem and joy in my people, and the voice of weep- 
ing shall be no more heard in her, nor the voice of cry- 
ing. There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor 



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an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child 
shall die an hundred years old, and the sinner being an 
hundred years old shall be accursed. 

And they shall build houses, and inhabit them; and 
they shall plant vineyards, and eat the fruit of them. 
They shall not build, and another inhabit; they shall not 
plant, and another eat: for as the days of a tree shall 
be the days of my people, and my chosen shall long enjoy 
the work of their hands." (Isa. 65:13, 19-22). The wild 
animals shall become tame and shall feed in the fields 
with the cattle and the sheep." (Isa. 11:6-10, 65: 25). 
Thorns and briers and thistles shall have ceased to 
grow, and in their stead shall come up the flowers and 
fruits and trees of the field. (Isa. 55:13). 

Where in former days, there was sickness and sorrow 
and pain and anguish, now there will be singing and glad- 
ness and rejoicing. Where in former days there was 
bitterness and anger and cursing, now there will be kind- 
ness and love and praise and worship. Where in the 
former days there were great storms and cyclones and 
hurricanes and earthquakes, now there will be refreshing 
showers and pleasant rains. "The wilderness and the 
parched land shall be glad; and the desert shall rejoice, 
and blossom as the rose. It shall blossom abundantly, 
and rejoice even with joy and singing; the glory of 
Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel 
and Sharon : they shall see the glory of the Lord, the ex- 
cellency of our God. Strengthen ye the weak hands, and 
confirm the tottering knees. . . . Then the eyes of the blind 
shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be un- 
stopped. Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and 
the tongue of the dumb shall sing; for in the wilderness 



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shall waters break out, and streams in the desert." (Isa. 
35:1-6). 

The deadly and murderous machines of locomotion 
and other inventions of destruction which have caused 
so many deaths in the days of the rule of Satan on the 
earth will have passed away; and "In that day shall 
there be upon the bells of the horses, Holy Unto The 
Lord." (Zee. 14:20). 

"And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come 
with singing unto Zion ; and everlasting joy shall be upon 
their heads; they shall obtain gladness and joy, and sor- 
row and sighing shall flee away." (Isa. 35:10). 

"For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of 
the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." (Hab. 
2:14). Praise the Lord! 



Chapter Sixteen 



THE LAST VISION OF DANIEL CONTINUED 

The Resurrection and Judgment of Israel and the Relation 
of the Church, Found W ritten in the Book 

Returning to the book of Daniel and taking up the 
verse where we stopped, the last part of verse 1 of Daniel, 
chapter 12, reads, "And at that time thy people shall be de- 
livered, every one that shall be found written in the 
book." The words, "Thy people," of course refer to 
Daniel's own people, Israel. "Found written in the 
book." What book, may be asked? God's word in 
several places speaks of a book in which the names of 
His people are written. Nothing is done in a haphazard 
way with the Lord. This book is first referred to in 
Exodus 32:32, 33, by Moses. Ezekiel 13:9 also refers 
to it, where the word of the Lord says, "They shall- not 
be in the council of my people," referring to the prophets 
that see vanity and divine lies, "Neither shall they be 
written in the writings of the house of Israel." From 
this we see that God has kept a record and a history of 
His people Israel. But Malachi 3:16 makes it plain to 
us, where he says, "Then they that feared the Lord spake 
one with another, and the Lord harkened and heard, and 
a book of remembrance was written before Him for them 
that feared the Lord, and that thought upon His name," 
etc. 

Undoubtedly these are the names that shall be written 

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in the book, and be delivered in the day of trouble. Those 
of Israel who will have received the seal of God (Rev. 
7:3, 4) will be preserved by fleeing to the wilderness. 
(Rev. 12:13-17). Here the woman symbolically repre- 
sents Israel. (Gen. 37:9, 10). 

The places to which they will flee are the deserted 
rock cities of Edom, Moab and the cities of the children 
of Ammon. (Dan. 11:41). They are fed by the Arabs 
of the desert. (Isa. 21:14, 15). And Christ tells them 
when to flee. (Mat. 24:15-21, 31). Here they are pre- 
served alive until the storm is passed. 

This is what is .meant where it says, "Come my people 
enter thou into thy chambers and shut thy doors about 
thee: hide thyself for a little moment until the indigna- 
tion be overpast." (Isa. 26:20, 21). Thus has God pro- 
vided refuge for those whose names are written in the 
book and who must pass through the time of trouble and 
be delivered from the power of the beast. 

So far as the writer has found, there is no promise that 
any class of people will be preserved alive on the earth 
after the departure of the church, during the terrible 
persecutions of the beast, and the judgments of God, ex- 
cept the 144 thousand of Israel, who receive the seal of 
God in their foreheads, as above described. All others, 
who come to a knowledge of the truth after the "Rap- 
ture," will suffer the persecutions of the beast and be 
subject to the judgments of God. Most of the people 
on the earth will either suffer death or submit to the 
mark of the beast, which means being finally to be cast 
into the lake of fire with the beast. Regarding the former, 
John says he saw "A great multitude which no man could 
number out of every nation and of all tribes and peoples 



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and tongues, standing before the throne and before the 
Lamb, arrayed in white robes and palms in their hands," 
etc., praising God and the Lamb. John was also told 
that "These are they which came out of the great tribula- 
tion, and they washed their robes, and made them 
white in the blood of the Lamb," etc. "For the Lamb 
which is in the midst of the throne shall be their shep- 
herd, and shall guide them into fountains of living waters 
of life, and God shall wipe away every tear from their 
eyes." (Rev. 7:9-17). Praise the Lord! There will 
be mercy in the midst of judgment. But God's word 
'also indicates that there will be a few people scattered 
over the remote portions of the earth, who shall escape 
alive the contact of the minions of the beast and the 
judgments of God and be left on the earth (Jer. 31 :7-9) 
when the judgments are ended. 

The Resurrection of Israel 

Verse 2 of chapter 12 reads, "And many of them that 
sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to ever- 
lasting life, and some to shame and everlasting contempt." 
A sentence pronounced by the angel of the Almighty, 
pregnant with great and terrible meaning. What is this 
but a resurrection of Daniel's people, Israel, coming at 
the end of the age? Some men say death ends all. How 
do they know? Others say there is no hell. How do 
they know? 

God's word says death does not end. all. God's word 
also says there is a place which we call hell. Who would 
be most likely to know, God or man? (Lu. 16:23). Let 
us consider this sentence of Daniel 12:2, "Many shall 
awake." A resurrection. Who shall awake? Job was 



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sure of a resurrection. He said, "For I know that my 
Redeemer liveth and that He shall stand up at the last 
upon the earth and after my skin hath been destroyed, 
yet from my flesh shall I see God." (Job 19:25, 26). 
Isaiah also says (26:19), "Thy dead shall live; my dead 
bodies shall arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in the 
dust; for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth 
shall cast forth the dead." The Lord speaking through 
Hosea (13:14), said of Ephraim, "I will ransom them 
from the power of the grave: I will redeem them from 
death. O death, where are thy plagues ? O grave, where 
is thy destruction?" 

In Ezekiel 37:11, 12, we read, "Then He said unto 
me, Son of man, these bones are the whole house of Israel : 
behold, they say, Our bones are dried up, and our hope 
is lost; we are clean cut off. Therefore, prophesy, and 
say unto them, Thus saith the Lord God : Behold, I will 
open your graves, and cause you to come up out of your 
graves, O My people; and I will bring you into the land 
of Israel." One should read the whole chapter and see 
what a revelation it is of the resurrection and collection 
of the whole house of Israel. 

Christ, speaking of His own life, said (John 10:18), 
"No one taketh it away from me, but I lay it down of 
myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to 
take it again. This commandment received I from my 
Father." 

In John 1 1 :25, Jesus said to Martha and unto all, 
"I am the resurrection and the life; he that believeth on 
me though he die, yet shall he live." And He proved 
that saying right there, in the raising of her brother, 
Lazarus, from the dead. He also said, "And whosoever 



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liveth and believeth on me shall never die. Believest 
thou this?" (John 11:26). A question put to her and 
to all who hear His words. What a glorious consumma- 
tion. The marvel and miracle of every age. Dying we 
shall live, and living we shall never die. He also said 
(John 5:28, 29), "Marvel not at this: for the hour 
cometh in which all that are in the tombs shall hear His 
voice (God's) and shall come forth: they that have done 
good, unto the resurrection of life; and they that have 
done ill, unto the resurrection of judgment." There is 
the dividing line. 

Good and ill. In other places in God's word we learn 
that all the dead do not come forth at the same time. 
Let us ask, is it not doing good to believe these words 
of this Jesus, which he has shown us to be true? 

Even Satan knows it is the consummation of all power 
to restore and put life into the body of a man again who 
has died, his body returned to the dust of the earth. And 
he will deceive nearly the whole world by endeavoring 
to imitate Christ, and claiming to be He, and raise the 
Little Horn from the dead before his body returns to 
dust, and cause the image to breathe and to speak. He 
knows this to be the greatest test he can make to deceive 
mankind. 

The Judgment of Israel 

But let us continue the consideration of Daniel 12:2. 
"Some to everlasting life, and some to shame and ever- 
lasting contempt." Now comes the judgment of the 
house of Israel, and the division ; commendation or con- 
demnation, according to the book in which their names 
are found written. Christ Himself speaks of "Eternal 
fire which is prepared for the Devil and his angels." 



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(Mat. 25:41). If any one is cast in there because his 
unbelief and disobedience would not permit his name to 
be written in the book of life, would not that be ever- 
lasting shame and contempt? How can this be the judg- 
ment scene of those that stand before the great white 
throne? That takes place after the earth and heaven 
have passed away. It will be the last and final judgment of 
the unregenerate, raised from the dead. (Rev. 20:11, 12). 

This will take place at the end of the age, after the 
resurrection of the Old Testament patriarch and prophets 
and Christ's own people, Israel, who must come into 
judgment and be reckoned with in justice and righteous- 
ness before Christ begins His reign on the earth. How 
can He judge them at this time unless they are raised 
from the dead ? The prophet John, speaking of this same 
resurrection coming at the end of the age, said, "The rest 
of the dead live not until the thousand years should be 
finished. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and 
holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection," etc. 
(Rev. 20:5, 6). So the house of Israel will be divided 
at this judgment scene, each going the way he has chosen 
to live. Some men can plead ignorance of the law, but 
as many as have sinned without the law, shall be judged 
and perish without the law. (Rom. 2:12). It will not 
be so with the house of Israel. There will be no excuse 
for them, and there will be no relenting. Israel will be 
judged for their conduct toward God. Then the nations 
on the earth will be judged for their conduct toward 
Israel, as well as their conduct toward God. (Mat. 
25:32-40; Joel 3:1, 2). So Christ, the King, divides 
Israel. So He divides the nations on the earth. So He 
divides the first resurrection from the second. What a 



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glorious time that will be for some, and what a terrible 
time it will be for others. 

The Church Saints and This Resurrection 

The question will arise, what then is the position of 
the church saints in regard to this resurrection? The 
answer is, they will not have anything to do with it. 
Since the saints of this age or dispensation called the 
Church are fellow-heirs and fellow-members of the body 
of Christ and are fellow-partakers of the promises in 
Christ Jesus through the gospel, which was not made 
known to the sons of men, but hid in God from all ages 
until after the resurrection of Christ, when it was made 
known to the church saints by Paul ; consequently it was 
hid from all the old prophets. (Rom. 16:25, 26; Eph. 
3:6-9, and Col. 1:26). The resurrection of the church 
saints was not prophesied of by Daniel or any other Old 
Testament prophet. Paul, himself, "By the word of the 
Lord," also made known the manner of the resurrection 
of these same church saints. (1 Thes. 4:13-17). Christ 
said to His disciples near the close of His ministry, "I 
have yet many things to say to you, but ye cannot bear 
them now." (John 16:12). And it would seem as though 
there were a good many people who could not bear them 
yet. In the next verse He tells them that when He, the 
Spirit of Truth is come, He shall guide you into all the 
truth. This resurrection of the church saints is, no doubt, 
one of the truths that the disciples could not then bear. 
We are also told by this same Paul, speaking to the af- 
flicted saints, Be at rest, when Christ shall come to be 
glorified in His saints, which will be before He will have 
been revealed in His judgments of vengeance. (2 Thes. 
1:7-10). This being the case, the resurrection of the 



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saints of the church will take place before the second 
coming of Christ to take vengeance on them that know 
not God, and before the resurrection described in this 
chapter of Daniel. 

This resurrection described in Daniel 12:2 will take 
place soon after the second coming of the Lord described 
in Rev. 19:11-15, while the resurrection described in I 
Thes. 4:13-17, will take place before. Daniel 12:2, does 
not refer to the resurrection of I Thes. 4:13-17, but the 
resurrection referred to in Rev. 20:4-6, which is called 
the first resurrection, also includes both the resurrection 
of I Thes. 4:13-17 and that of Daniel 12:2, although the 
former precedes the latter. Daniel 12:2, says, ''Many 
shall awake," but it does not say all. Rev. 20:4-6, con- 
veys the same meaning, not all. If all were included, 
there would be no account of the resurrection of the unre- 
generate dead of the great white throne, (Rev. 20:11-15) 
which comes after the millennial reign of Christ instead 
of before. No doubt the resurrection described in Daniel 
12:2 is that of God's people Israel and the saints of the 
Old Testament times who were not resurrected with the 
church. 

The Saints to Rule the Earth with Christ as King 

"Jehovah came from Sinai and rose up from Sier unto 
them. He shined forth from Mount Paran, and He 
came from ten thousand of His holy ones (angels) : 

At his right hand was a fiery law unto them. Yea He 
loved the people, and all His holy ones (saints) are in 
thy hands." Thus spoke Moses when he blessed the 
children of Israel. (Deu. 33:2, 3). Four times in the 
Old Testament at least, (Zee. 14:5; Dan. 7:22, 27; 



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Mai. 4:3), and as many times in the new, (I Thes. 
3:13; I Cor. 6:2; Lu. 22:29, 30; 2 Tim. 2:12, and Rev. 
2:26), the Lord is mentioned as coming with all His 
holy ones to possess the kingdom on the earth. Christ 
also said, "Other sheep I have which are not of this fold, 
them also I must bring : and they shall hear my voice ; and 
they shall become one flock, one shepherd." (John 
10:16; Isa. 56:8). Therefore we conclude that both 
the saints of the Old Testament and the New, will be- 
come one body and rule on the earth in the millennial age 
with Christ. (Rev. 20:4-6). 
Praise the Lord. 

The Wise 

Now let us consider verse 3. This verse ends that part 
of Daniel's vision describing, "What shall befall thy peo- 
ple in the latter days." (Dan. 10:14). 

Verse 3 reads, "And they that be wise shall shine as the 
brightness of the firmament and they that turn many to 
righteousness as the stars forever and ever." What a 
statement this is, made to the Children of Israel. How 
many of them are hearing it or heeding it? What an in- 
centive for God's people to labor in the harvest of the 
world. God's word says, "The fear of the Lord is the 
beginning of wisdom." (Ps. 111:10). Proverbs is a book 
of instruction in wisdom from the mouth of God for men 
of the earth, not proverbs of Solomon, but wise sayings, 
proverbs to Solomon; the first eight chapters, at least, for 
they repeatedly say, "My son," "thy," "thee," "thou," 
"thine," "the mother." Any one who will heed them will 
not go very far astray. We read in Daniel, 11 :33, "And 
they that be wise among the people shall instruct many." 
In Nehemiah. 8:8, we read, "And they read the book, in 



■ » 

188 Comments on Daniel 



the law of God, distinctly and gave the sense, so that 
they understood the reading." The Lord once said of 
Levi, "The law of truth was in his mouth and unright- 
eousness was not found in his lips: he walked with me 
in peace and uprightness, and did turn many away from 
iniquity." (Mai. 2:6). Such are the teachers of truth 
to the people that shall "Shine as the stars forever and 
ever." 

In verse 4, Daniel is told to "Shut up the words and 
seal the book even to the time of the end." In verse 9 
Daniel is told, "Go thy way, for the words are shut up 
and sealed till the time of the end." The question of the 
sealed book has been considered in the introductory 
chapter. 



Chapter Seventeen 



THE CONCLUSION 

The Increase of Knowledge 

The latter part of verse 4, reads, "Many shall run to 
and fro, and knowledge shall be increased." It is claimed 
there has been a controversy over what is the correct 
translation of this sentence. It is claimed the primitive 
text has been changed by the Massoritic scribes. The 
meaning depends upon which one of two Hebrew words, 
"Shut" or "Sut," belongs in the original text. Changing 
the place of a little dot from one part of the word to 
another part, makes the word to be "Shut," meaning, 
"to rove, turn about, despise," or "Sut," meaning, "to 
swerve, turn aside, apostatize." At the present day, who 
can tell which is correct, "Run to and fro," or "Aposta- 
tize"? 

We are aware that this phrase has been often quoted 
as the fulfillment of prophecy in reference to the restless- 
ness of the people, and their roving over the earth, to and 
fro. But we are of the opinion that the angel of God 
would be more interested in what the people did in regard 
to obeying His word, and their steadfastness, than in the 
amount of traveling they did. 

A similar trouble exists with regard to the word 
"Knowledge." It looks as though Satan took a hand in 
the translating of the whole sentence. The Septuagint 
translation, reads the Hebrew word, "Wickedness," 

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190 Comments on Daniel 



while the Vatican edition translates the same word 
"Knowledge." This came about because there are two 
Hebrew letters that look so much alike that one is some- 
times mistaken for the other. In the Hebrew, if one 
letter is used it would make the word mean ' 'Knowl- 
edge." If the other is used it would make the word mean 
"Wickedness." Now which is the correct word to use in 
the translation? 

We have written the sentence as printed in the text, 
now let us write it as it may be correctly written. "Many 
shall apostatize, and wickedness shall increase." Com- 
paring this with such texts as 2 Tim. 3:1-7, and 2 Pet. 
3:3, 4, let us ask which is probably the correct trans- 
lation? Would not the prophetic statements in verse 
10, also strengthen the above meaning? 

The Man Clothed in Linen 

In verses 5, 6, 7, Daniel tells us what else he saw of 
other angels on the brink of the two sides of the river 
and also what he heard of the conversation they had with 
"The man clothed with linen," which was above the 
river. In considering this statement of Daniel, the 
question arose, who is "The man clothed with linen" 
above the waters of the river ? The writer, in endeavoring 
to find an answer to this question found it necessary to 
consider the whole matter of the expression, "The man 
clothed with linen," and its significance as found in God's 
word. Going back to Daniel, ch. 10, and reviewing 
Daniel's description of him as given there, with other 
things pertaining to it and comparing it with similar ex- 
pressions found elsewhere in God's word, has obliged the 
writer to conclude that the expression does not refer to 



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191 



Gabriel, and that it was not he who imparted the prophe- 
tic knowledge given in chs. 11 and 12 to Daniel. In 
chapter eight of this book where this subject was con- 
sidered, the writer took it for granted that Daniel's 
description there, referred to the angel Gabriel, and he 
was quoted several times as imparting that instruction to 
Daniel. But now the writer understands this is not the 
case; this knowledge was not imparted by Gabriel to 
Daniel, but by "The man clothed with linen," who was 
sent by the Lord God to instruct him in the things Daniel 
wished to know. So far as the writer has found on in- 
vestigating God's word, Gabriel is mentioned twice as in- 
structing Daniel in things to come to pass. First, begin - 
ning at ch. 8:16, and second, at ch. 9:21. Next he is 
mentioned in Lu. 1:19, where the angel of the Lord, 
Gabriel instructed Zacharias in regard to the birth of 
John the Baptist, and also, in vs. 26, 27, where he in- 
structed Mary in regard to the birth of Jesus Christ. 
His raiment was not described. But the question still- 
remains to be answered, who is "The man clothed with 
linen"? The contest he had with the prince of the king- 
dom of Persia, (Dan. 10:13) plainly shows he was not the 
Lord. Daniel knew him only as "The man clothed with 
linen." Ezekiel, the same. (9:2). But the prophet John 
knew them, "Clothed with linen (margin) pure and 
bright," as "The seven angels that had the seven 
plagues" (Rev. 15:6), and also the wife of the Lamb. 
"And it was given her that she should array herself in 
fine linen, bright and pure: for the fine linen is the right- 
eous acts of the saints." "And the armies which are in 
heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine 
linen, white and pure." (Rev. 19:7, 8, 14). So we con- 



192 Comments on Daniel 



elude, "The man clothed in linen," represents some saint 
who had lived on the earth, at some past time and died 
and gone to glory; and the Lord sent him to inform 
Daniel of things that should come to pass. 

The Oath 

Returning to the text in v. 6, we read, one of the two 
angels on the sides of the river said, to "The man clothed 
with linen, How long shall it be to the end of these won- 
ders" ? Then Daniel said, "And I heard the man clothed 
with linen," etc. When he held up his hands to heaven, 
"And sware by Him that liveth forever that it shall be 
for a time, times and an half; and when they have made 
an end of breaking in pieces the power of the holy peo- 
ple, all these things shall be finished." It will be noticed 
that the angel called the things they were talking about, 
"Wonders." In Rev. 10:7, an angel calls them, "Mys- 
teries of God." He also (v. 5) "lifted up his right hand 
to heaven and sware by Him that liveth forever and ever," 
etc., that in the days when the voice of the seventh 
angel should sound this mystery should be finished ac- 
cording to the good tidings of His servants and prophets. 

We find also, three times is this expression "Time, 
times and an half" used. 

Once besides this, in Dan. 7 :25, where the angel in 
heaven tells Daniel what the little horn will say against 
the Most High, and what he will do to His saints. Again 
in Rev. 12:14, where the woman, clothed with the sun 
symbolically represents Israel, "Is given the wings of a 
great eagle (Ex. 19:4) that she might fly to the wilder- 
ness to her place," as described in chapter sixteen of this 
book. The question may be asked, Why must the power 



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of the holy people be broken in pieces before these things 
are finished ? An answer is the same that the Lord gave 
to Gideon, "Lest Israel vaunt themselves against me and 
say, Mine own hand hath saved me." (Judg. 7:2). Only 
as clothed with the righteousness of Christ, which is the 
fine linen of the saints, will God trust any man. Un- 
doubtedly this saint clothed, with linen is the same person 
referred to in Dan. 8:16, where he bid Gabriel "Make- 
Daniel to understand the vision," but here in v. 8, Daniel 
says, I heard but understood not and repeats his question, 
and in v. 9, he was told by this same man clothed with 
linen to go his way, "For the words are shut up and 
sealed to the time of the end." In v. 10, this same saint 
continued saying, "Many shall purify themselves and 
•make themselves white, and be refined." The A. V. 
reads, "Many shall be purified and made white and tried," 
which, seems more consistent with the general teaching of 
God's word. Are you one of them? For the saint con- 
tinued saying, "But the wicked shall do wickedly (are 
there more than two classes here?) and none of the wicked 
shall understand." How is it possible to explain the 
difference between the refined and unrefined in wisdom, 
except on the ground of accepting or rejecting the word of 
God? For Christ said, "The words that I speak unto 
you are spirit, and are life." (John 6:63). 

In Zechariah, ch. 13, v. 9, speaking of this very time, the 
Lord said, "I will bring the third part through the fire, 
and will refine, as silver is refined, and will try them as 
gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear 
them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say. 
The Lord is my God," etc. So that in all ages and times, 
we see, there must be reconciliation to God. Those days 



194 Comments on Daniel 

will not be like the present gospel days. This age of 
gospel preaching will then have passed away. They will 
be the kingdom days. This then will all be concerning 
Israel, for before this at the time of the end, the church 
will have gone to glory, and God will have again begun 
to deal with His people, Israel, and the gospel of the king- 
dom will have again begun to be preached all over the 
world by the Jews. (Mat. 9:35; 24:14). 

The Three Periods of Time 

Three periods of time are mentioned in vs. 7, 11, 12, 
by this man clothed in linen. It will be noted that all 
three periods start at the same time, the middle of the 
time of the end, or the middle of the last seven years of 
the seventy weeks of years, which was the time decreed to 
finish the transgression, etc. (Dan. 9:24). The time of 
the end is the time when the little horn, the beast will 
rule on the earth. At the middle of the seven years, the 
beast will break his covenant with the Jews. This will be 
a time, times and a half, or three and one half years from 
the beginning of the time of the end. There will be left 
of the seven years, still three and one half years, or a time, 
times and half a time, which also equals 1260 days. 

This is the time the beast will rule over the whole 
earth, until he and the false prophet are taken at the 
battle of Armageddon, at which time the Lord will have 
come and overcome the power of the beast and false 
prophet and will cast them both alive into the lake of 
fire, (Rev. 19:11-21) as described in chapter fifteen of 
this book. During the last three and one half years of 
this rule of the beast is the time of the great tribulatipn, 
or the time of "Jacob's trouble." (Jer. 30:7). The 



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second period contains 30 days more than the first, and is 
1290 days long. At the end of this period the ruins of 
the sanctuary or temple built by the Jews, on their re- 
turn to the holy land, which has already begun to take 
place, which temple will have been occupied by the beast, 
will have been removed, and the great new temple will 
have been raised up by the Lord, Himself, (Amos. 9:11, 
12) upon the oblation given by Israel at the time the land 
will be divided by lot, to the tribes, as described in Ezek. 
chs. 40-45. The third period of time is 45 days more 
than the second period, and 75 days more than the first, 
and is 1335 days long. At the end of this period we may 
look for assembling together of all the resurrected saints 
of Israel and the church and all those who passed through 
the days of tribulation and all those who will be accounted 
worthy to attend and witness the Lord's nuptial feast 
as referred to in Isaiah, 54:4-9, and 62:1-8 and Psalm 
30 and 45, and Rev. 19:7-9, etc. Who can describe the 
joy, glory and splendor of this occasion ? Praise the Lord ! 
Daniel, 12:12, contains the only beatitude in the whole 
book. 

Daniel 

Verse 13, chapter 12. We have now come to the last 
verse of this great and wonderful book, in which the man 
clothed with linen, talking to Daniel, said, "But go thy 
way till the end be: for thou shalt rest, and shalt stand 
in thy lot, (place) at the end of the days." It seems 
proper in closing this chapter, to say a few words concern- 
ing this Daniel long since at rest, whose body lies no one 
knows where. He was the mouth-piece of the Most High 
God to his people during their Babylonian captivity. God 
was pleased to give His people through this prophet a 



196 Comments on Daniel 



very complete account of coming events, dating from his 
day and the destruction of Jerusalem to the end of the 
age, yet in the future, which already covers a period of 
over two thousand four hundred years, in order that His 
people might be made wise in the knowledge of things to 
come and understand. Much of this prophecy has now 
passed into history. We do not know who Daniel's 
father and mother were, but we are told that he and his 
companions were of the royal family, perhaps of the 
household of Josiah. We have no knowledge of what be- 
came of Daniel's parents or those of his companions, 
whether they were taken into captivity or were killed at 
the time their native land was overrun by the armies of 
Nebuchadnezzar. Their lives were swallowed up in the 
war. 

Only in the lives of their sons do they live. Their 
children alone remain to tell us something concerning 
them. But their lives and teachings were so indelibly 
stamped upon the minds of the sons that we know they 
must have been people of God. Snatched from their 
homes by the ruthless hand of war, when only in their 
"Teens," carried as captives to a foreign land, to become 
slaves of their captors, still Daniel and his companions, 
reflected the grand and glorious lives of their parents. 
Made captives when so young, still they stuck to the God 
of heaven. Danger, threats, intrigue, pomp, power, the 
promise of earthly position, fire, the sword, the lions 
mouth, not anything could turn them from their God. 
He became their Father and took care of them. We know 
so little of the history of Daniel's companions, that we 
will only speak further of Daniel. He when carried to 
Babylon, resolved that he would not defile himself with 



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the kings meat. (Lev. 17:10). Thus doing he revered 
and obeyed God. After this he became the boy seer, then 
a great man of prayer, a man of science, a wise man, and 
a great prophet of God. Bred in the school of the Al- 
mighty, tutored under His guidance in affliction, Daniel 
was raised up through the mountains of adversity, bear- 
ing the burdens of a slave, until he stood among the 
giants of God's human creation, clean, pure and white' 
as the driven snow that lay on the peaks of the mountain 
range. His integrity, his loyalty, his bravery, stand out 
clearly before the world. He interpreted dreams, he saw 
visions of great events to come, and gave their meaning. 
He stood before kings. He administered the state affairs 
of mighty nations. He plead with God for his people. 
He assumed in his innocence and prayers, the very guilt 
and burden of their transgressions, and thus became 
typical of the Christ, the savior of the world. He wrung 
from God the secrets concerning his people, and the fate 
of mighty- nations, and gave them to the world, thereby 
forewarning mankind of the terrible things to come. He 
saw into heaven, and talked with angels. He saw the 
glory of the coming kingdom of Israel. In his persecu- 
tions he faced the lion in his den, the fiercest of the wild 
beasts. He also faced still more fierce and dangerous men. 
This is the man the so-called higher critics would belie, 
and make us believe that he and his visions are false and 
his prophecies untrue, which prophecies have been and are 
being fulfilled in the history of the world to the very 
letter. This man stands in God's word, a peer with such 
men as Elijah, Isaiah, Jermiah, and Samuel. What made 
him so great? 

His loyalty and fealty to his God, and his constant com- 



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Comments on Daniel 



munion with him made him greatly beloved, and his God 
made him great. It was not his knowledge that made 
him great. At most, that only gave him an opportunity 
to better serve his captors as a slave. Few men have been 
so faithful and true to God as Daniel. This man after a 
life of great service to God and man, was told to rest in 
conscious peaceful repose (2 Cor. 5:1-4; Rev. 6-11), 
.until the end of the days, when he will come forth in his 
resurrection body, clothed with fine linen, pure and bright, 
to live for ever and ever in eternal glory. 



FINIS 



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